Hawzah News Agency (Tehran, Iran) - Meanwhile, nearly three millions Iranians, along with many more from Iran and other countries, have taken part in the annual Arbaeen march between the Iraqi cities of Najaf to Karbala.

Karbala houses Imam Hussein’s (as) holy shrine.

The occasion called Arbaeen occurs 40 days after Ashura, the tenth day of the lunar calendar month of Muharram, when the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was martyred at the hands of the tyrant of the time, Yazid I, back in the seventh century.

The first nine days of Muharram feature mourning processions in anticipation of Ashura. The rituals culminate with Arbaeen, known as the world’s largest annual pilgrimage.

Imam Hussein (as) is a highly-venerated figure not only among Shias but also Sunni Muslims. Even some groups of Iraqi Christians join the Arbaeen march to Karbala.