Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 10
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
The number of Iranian pilgrims who entered Iraq to participate in the mourning rituals on Arbaeen surpassed 1.2 million people, Saeed Owhadi, head of Iran 's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization said, the official IRNA news agency reported Dec. 10.
Arbaeen, which in Arabic means forty, falls on December 13 this year and marks 40 days after the anniversary of martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the third Shia Imam.
Millions of Shiite people from across the world are taking part in a march toward Iraq 's holy city of Karbala to attend the ceremony.
Owhadi said that the number of Iranian pilgrims in this year march is unprecedented.
Over 4,500 buses were dispatched to the borders with Iraq to facilitate Iranian pilgrims' return to their cities, he added.
Iraqi forces have also tightened security to protect pilgrims against terrorist attacks ahead of the mourning rituals.
The number of Arbaeen pilgrims reportedly hit 20 million in 2013. Iraqi officials expect the turnout for this year's Arbaeen procession to be higher than last year's.