New “Five Bags Per Pilgrim” Campaign Launched to Clean Arbaeen Route

New “Five Bags Per Pilgrim” Campaign Launched to Clean Arbaeen Route
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Ahead of the massive Arbaeen Husseini pilgrimage, a grassroots campaign titled “Five Bags Per Pilgrim” has been launched by a coalition of Moukebs (pilgrim service stations) and volunteer groups. The initiative aims to address the significant challenge of waste management along the Arbaeen walking routes to Karbala.

According to a report from Shia Waves Agency, the campaign encourages each pilgrim to carry at least five garbage bags: one for personal use and four to distribute among other pilgrims. The goal is to foster collective participation in cleaning the Mashaya (walking routes) of the Arbaeen pilgrimage.

This popular movement is a direct response to the enormous volume of waste generated annually during Arbaeen on the roads leading to Karbala. Official statistics from Iraqi authorities indicate that in 2023 alone, over 800,000 tons of waste were produced along the pilgrimage routes. The collection of this waste often faced delays due to a shortage of sanitation personnel, particularly in border and inter-city areas, with garbage sometimes remaining uncollected for days after the Arbaeen ceremonies conclude.

The “Five Bags Per Pilgrim” campaign has been widely welcomed by social media users and cultural activists. Its organizers believe that maintaining the cleanliness of the pilgrimage route is not only a demonstration of love for Imam Hussein (peace be upon him) but also a fundamental human and religious responsibility for all pilgrims. They assert that pilgrims of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) should serve as models of decorum, order, and responsibility.