The occasion called Arbaeen occurs 40 days after Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar calendar month of Muharram when the grandson of Prophet Muhammad was martyred at the hands of the tyrant of the time, Yazid I, back in the seventh century.
The first nine days of Muharram feature mourning processions in anticipation of Ashura. The rituals culminate with Arbaeen, known as the worlds largest annual pilgrimage.
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An Iranian pilgrim is seen overwhelmed with emotion upon reaching Imam Hosseins holy shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala on November 19, 2016 (Photo by Tasnim)[/caption]The occasion has invariably worked to unify Muslims in the face of attempts to create divergence, animosity and misunderstanding among them.
Large numbers of Iranians travel to Iraq each year, walking the distance between the Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, which houses the Imams holy shrine, so as to be able to be there by Arbaeen.
The devotees are joined by their fellow Muslims from other countries along the course.
Imam Hussein is a highly-venerated figure not only among Shias but also Sunni Muslims. Even some groups of Iraqi Christians join the march to Karbala.
Iraq will commemorate Arbaeen on Monday.
This year, the Mehran border crossing with Iraq, which is used by Iranians, had to be temporarily shut by Iraqi authorities due to the overwhelming influx of pilgrims.
