IRNA � As many as 1,111,805 pilgrims have crossed Iraq into Iranian soil as they had travelled to the country to attend Arbaeen rituals, held on Sunday.


Spokesman of the Arbaeen Central Headquarters Hamid-Reza Goudarzi told IRNA on Sunday that within the November 11-20 period, 534,481 pilgrims arrived in Iranian territory via Mehran (Ilam Province) border, 305,260 ones via Shalamche (Khouzestan Province) border, and 171,573 others via Chazabe (Khuzestan Province) border.

The report said a group of 100,491 pilgrims were also flown to the country within the period.

Over two million Iranians traveled to Karbala in Iraq to take part in mourning ceremonies which were held there on Sunday to mark the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shiia Muslims.

Arbaeen, falling on November 20 this year, is a Shiia Muslim religious observance that occurs forty days after the Day of Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the third Imam of Shiia Muslims.