Hawzah News Agency - (Karbala - Iraq) - Millions of pilgrims, including a record number of Iranians, have gathered in Iraq’s holy city of Karbala to commemorate Arba’een, the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam.

Among the pilgrims, which usually number 20 million from around the world every year, many arrive in Karbala after trekking about 70 kilometers northward from the holy city of Najaf in a symbolic gesture honoring Imam Hussein.

Pilgrims enter the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala up to two weeks before Arba'een. This year’s Arba’een falls on Saturday, October 19.

Speaking on Thursday, Iran's Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said a total of 3.5 million Iranians had entered Iraq to take part in the ceremony, 1.2 million more than the number reported last year and topping previous participation records.

Fazli praised what he described as "good cooperation" on behalf of Iraqi officials in facilitating the process, adding that all branches of the Iranian government had also contributed to managing the huge pilgrimage.

Foreign pilgrims from other countries also participate in the event, with tens of thousands entering Iraq notably from countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Lebanon.