Shafaq News- Tehran/ Baghdad
More than three million Iranian pilgrims have entered Iraq for Ashura, the annual Shia commemoration of the killing of Imam Hussein in 680 AD, including about 400,000 who crossed the land border in a single day, Iran’s state broadcaster reported on Wednesday.
The broadcaster said the arrivals were part of a continuing flow of pilgrims heading to Karbala for the 10th of Muharram, which falls on Thursday, June 25, according to the Islamic calendar used in Iraq and Iran.
The figure places Iranian arrivals alone within the lower range of Ashura’s overall turnout in Iraq. Tourism and Antiquities Ministry spokesperson Hatem Al-Azzawi had told Shafaq News that Ashura draws about five to six million visitors, largely concentrated in Karbala, while Arbaeen can bring more than 20 million visitors.
Karbala draws millions of Shia Muslims each year for Ashura, particularly to the shrines of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam and grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and his brother Al-Abbas.