Millions of pilgrims march to Karbala for Arbaeen commemoration

KARBALA, Iraq — Millions of pilgrims converged on the holy city of Karbala to mark Arbaeen, the religious observance commemorating Imam Hussein, with many making the journey on foot. Arbaeen, held 40 days after Ashura, is one of the largest annual religious gatherings in the Islamic world and draws worshippers seeking to visit the shrine of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. Pilgrims traveled along routes where thousands of mawakib — voluntary service tents and rest stations — were set up to provide shelter, meals and water to those walking toward the shrine. Local reports said hotels and guesthouses across the city were largely fully booked, and Karbala had mobilized its services to accommodate the visitors. Security forces deployed along the main approach roads to manage the movement of the crowds and maintain orderly access to the shrine. Footage from the city showed dense streams of pilgrims pressing toward the holy site as the commemoration reached its central day. No incident-related casualty figures were given in the reports. Authorities in Karbala have urged pilgrims to follow the designated routes and cooperate with security personnel managing the flow of visitors. The commemoration traditionally concludes with the peak arrival of pilgrims on Arbaeen day, after which crowds begin to disperse back to their places of origin across Iraq and the wider region.