TEHRAN (Tasnim) � Iraqi minister of transport announced that the number of pilgrims attending the mourning rituals of Arbaeen in the Arab country has passed 26 million, and is still rising.


Baqir Jabr al-Zubeidi predicted that the number of pilgrims would reach 27 million by tomorrow, Iraqi media reported.

According to the Iraqi transport ministry, 60 percent of the pilgrims are women.

Millions of devoted Shiite Muslims from over 60 countries have converged on the Iraqi holy city of Karbala to hold mourning rituals marking Arbaeen, the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).

The pilgrims are from over 60 countries and most of them have marched all the way to Karbala from cities like Najaf and Baghdad in a show of devotion.

Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shiite Imam, Imam Hussein (AS).

Each year during Arbaeen, a huge crowd of Shiites flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

Last year, the number of pilgrims going to Karbala for Arbaeen reached 20 million.

By Tasnim News Agency