Basra mourners march toward Karbala for Arbaeen

A group of mourners from the southern Iraqi city of Basra left the city for of Karbala ahead of Arbaeen.

A group of mourners from the southern Iraqi city of Basra left the city for of Karbala ahead of Arbaeen.

According to the website of Hussein holy shrine, they are accompanied by a group representing the Osara of Karbala (prisoners who were taken to the court of the Umayyad ruler Yazid after the Battle of Karbala on the day of Ashura in 680 AD).

Shia Muslims, and others in different parts of the world, hold ceremonies every year in the months of Muharram and Safar to mourn the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, and his companions.

The third Shia Imam, peace be upon him, and a small group of his followers and family members were martyred by the tyrant of his time – Yazid Bin Moaweya, in the battle of Karbala on the tenth day of Muharram (known as Ashura).

Arbaeen comes 40 days after Ashura. Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him, is located, to perform mourning rites.