IRNA – Over 1.6 Iranians have arrived in Iraq from three border terminals to participate in Arbaeen pilgrimage, according to a police official in charge of organizing Arbaeen rituals.

Speaking to reporters in Mehran border terminal, Brigadier-General Mohsen Fathizadeh said that over 440,000 Iranian pilgrims have returned to Iran from Iraq so far.

He predicted that the remaining nearly 200,000 others will enter Iraq within the next 48 hours from Mehran border checkpoint.

Arbaeen is a mourning day in which Shia Muslims mark the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hossein (AS) – the third Shia Imam and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Every year, millions of Shia Muslims go to the holy shrine of Imam Hossein (AS) in Karbala on foot to mark Arbaeen.

Fathizadeh said that the Iranian police are fully prepared to handle the wave of pilgrims in their way back home after Arbaeen Day.