- Title: Iranian pilgrims head to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage
- Date: 13th September 2022
- Summary: ZURBATIA, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 12, 2022) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING THROUGH BORDER CROSSING PILGRIM WALKING OUT OF BORDER CROSSING PILGRIMS WALKING VARIOUS OF PILGRIM HOLDING IRANIAN FLAG BANNER NEAR BORDER CROSSING READING (Arabic, English and Farsi): "WELCOME TO THE VISITORS OF IMAM HUSSAIN" (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PILGRIM, SARA SAKI, SAYING: "This is our first time coming to Kerbala, we haven't come before. It was a really good journey so far, there was intense heat, but with the facilities and the way we were welcomed, everything was really good. There was enough water, everything was well done." VARIOUS OF MEN USING WATER HOSES TO SPRAY WATER ON PILGRIMS (SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) IRANIAN PILGRIM, MAHZIYAR, SAYING: "The journey to Iraq this year was very good. This is my first time, but compared to the experiences of some of my friends in previous years, this year everything went very well. Just at the end of the week, it got quite loud, but it was for the love of Imam Hussein. I want to say that the country of Iraq is in joy to have Imam Hussein and it is our honor to come to Arbaeen in this way every year." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS NEAR BORDER CROSSING VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING
- Embargoed: 27th September 2022 15:22
- Keywords: Arbaeen Iran Iraq Pilgrims
- Location: ZURBATIA, IRAQ
- City: ZURBATIA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: Middle East,Religion/Belief,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA001489013092022RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Walking under the hot midday sun, crowds of Iranian pilgrims crossed the Zurbatia border into Iraq, on their way to the city of Kerbala for the annual Shi'ite ritual of Arbaeen.
"This is our first time coming to Kerbala, we haven't come before", said 19-year-old Iranian Sara Zaki.
Millions of Iranians travel to the Iraqi city of Kerbala every year for the ritual of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hussein.
Arbaeen falls on September 16-17 this year.
In 2020 and 2021, the numbers of pilgrims attending Arbaeen was lower than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic and measures limiting the number of foreign pilgrims entering Iraq.
This year, since July 31, about 2.6 million pilgrims from Iran entered Iraq, Alaa al-Din al-Qaisi, spokesperson for the Iraqi Border Ports Authority, told Reuters on Monday (September 12).
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