Ansar al-Hossein Caravan starts pilgrimage to Karbala

On-foot travelers of Ansar al-Hossein Caravan from Iran have departed on walk of Arbaeen.

The caravan members are 170 devout Muslims, age range from 13 to 85, from Kerman, Golestan, Mazandaran, Khuzestan, Tehran and Esfahan and Razavi, South and North Khorasan Provinces. They have started their walk from Iranian city of Mashhad.

Every year, Shia Muslims from around the world depart on Arbaeen Pilgrimage on foot to arrive to Karbala in Iraq to commemorate the occasion of Arbaeen - marking 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hossein (AS) and his faithful companions.

The Arbaeen Pilgrimage or Arbaeen Walk is the world's largest annual public gathering of Muslims, held in Karbala at the end of the 40-day mourning period following Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram when the third Shia Imam was martyred.

This religious manifestation is of historical standing as the first on-foot travelers embarked on this reverent journey some 14 centuries ago. Since then, there have been some eras when this pilgrimage was banned, just as it happened during the presidency of Saddam.

However, since 2003, when the notorious president of Iraq was overthrown, it has been revived and the number of Muslims who participate in it has grown annually.

AA/MG