Iraq and Iran Bolster Services for Arba’een Pilgrims as Devotees Continue Their Journey of Love
In the lead-up to the Arba’een pilgrimage, Iraqi and Iranian authorities, along with local communities, are implementing a series of measures to accommodate the millions of pilgrims traveling to Karbala. These initiatives range from offering free transportation and enhancing hygiene to facilitating unique and traditional pilgrimage routes.
To alleviate costs for pilgrims, Iranian officials have announced that travel from the Bashmaq border crossing to the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq’s Kurdistan region will be free of charge. This measure, a result of coordination with Iraqi authorities, aims to ease the burden on pilgrims and manage the high volume of travelers, especially given the heavy demand at other crossings like Mehran.
In Najaf, a comprehensive health plan has been launched to ensure the well-being of pilgrims. The provincial health department is deploying over 90 fixed and mobile medical teams, along with 20 volunteer teams, totaling nearly 1,700 personnel from various specialties. The plan includes the deployment of over 110 ambulances and places all provincial hospitals on high alert. A key emergency center, “Ya Ali (AS),” is fully equipped with operating rooms and specialized medical staff to handle critical cases.
Pilgrims from various parts of Iraq continue their journey with massive flags bearing slogans like “Ya Lethar’at al-Hussein” and “Ya Saqi al-Atashi Karbala.” Many pilgrims on their journey of devotion to Karbala, are traveling on boats decorated with exquisite Husseini flags and banners, demonstrating a unique love transcending geographical borders.
Meanwhile, in Shush, a city known for one of the oldest Arba’een processions, pilgrims are continuing a unique tradition of crossing the Dez River by boat and small ferries (dubes), a practice that showcases their deep devotion to the sacred rituals of Aba Abdillah al-Hussein (peace be upon him) and is an annual spectacle of faith and endurance. This move is championed by the renowned Ansar al-Hussein Caravan.
