Global faithful converge on Karbala for Arbaeen pilgrimage
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Millions gather in Iraq for Arbaeen pilgrimage.
- Pilgrims arrive from across the world.
- Millions walk Najaf-Karbala route.
- Iraq expands services for visitors.
Arbaeen pilgrims from nations across the globe -including Canada, the United States, Tanzania, Australia, and the United Kingdom- have gathered in the Iraqi holy city of Karbala, according to a report by the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The influx of international attendees highlights the growing global reach of the annual gathering, which draws tens of millions of worshippers to Iraq each year.
Streams of pilgrims clad in black filled the central plazas surrounding the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Hazrat Abbas, arriving after multi-day journeys on foot from neighboring cities.
Diverse international presence
While the vast majority of participants originate from Iraq, Iran, and neighboring Middle Eastern nations, recent years have seen a steady increase in foreign delegations coming from western and sub-Saharan African countries.
Pilgrims traveling from North America, Western Europe, and Australasia joined local volunteers and international contingents along the main 80-kilometer walking corridor linking Najaf to Karbala.
Local organizers reported hosting dedicated groups from community centers and Shia diaspora organizations operating in London, Toronto, Sydney, and Dar es Salaam.
Unprecedented scale
Arbaeen -which translates to "forty" in Arabic- marks the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period following Ashura, the anniversary of the 7th-century martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE.
The scale of the gathering relies on thousands of volunteer-run service stations, known as mawakib, set up along all major highways leading into Karbala.
These stations provide pilgrims with free meals, hydration, medical support, and sleeping quarters, ensuring that international visitors and local marchers alike are accommodated throughout the journey.
