First group of pilgrims begin Arbaeen march

The first group of pilgrims began marching toward the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, for Arbaeen.

The first group of pilgrims began marching toward the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, for Arbaeen.

According to al-Sumaria news, they began the march in Ras al-Bisheh, a town in the southernmost part of the southern province of Basra, on Saturday.

Arbaeen, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein, peace be upon him.

Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, is located, to perform mourning rites.