Arba'een procession held in Tehran

A huge crowd of people in the Iranian capital took part in a procession on Wednesday morning in commemoration of Arba'een, marking forty days after the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shias' Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH).

According to Tasnim news agency, a main road to southern Tehran leading to the holy shrine of Hazrat Abdol Azim Hassani (PBUH) in Rey was blocked to motorists to allow the packed crowd to go on the pilgrimage on foot.

People from different walks of life have taken part in the grand religious procession by walking a 15 kilometer route from Imam Hussein square to the holy shrine.

Around 2,000 Moukebs (pavilions) along the route provide food, beverage, accommodation and medical services for the people.

Since a couple of years ago, Tehran residents, calling themselves those “left behind” (for not having had the opportunity to take part in the annual Arba'een march in Iraq), walk long distances from different parts of Tehran to Rey on Arba'een.

Arba'een is a national holiday in Iran. It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), in 680 AD.

The Iraqi city of Karbala, which hosts the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH), has attracted millions of pilgrims, even non-Muslims, who create the world’s largest human gathering in modern history.

ME