Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims Walk Toward Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad to Mark End of Safar
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The roads leading to Mashhad have witnessed a massive influx of pilgrims walking toward the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) as the end of Safar approaches. Pilgrims have been arriving from different regions of Iran and from abroad, continuing a long-standing tradition of walking to the shrine to honor the eighth Imam.<\/p>\n
According to reports, pilgrimage routes from Torbat-e Heydarieh, Nishapur, Quchan, Fariman, Kalat, and Sarakhs have become major paths for foot pilgrims. By the anniversary of Imam Reza\u2019s martyrdom, an estimated 650,000 to 700,000 pilgrims had reached Mashhad after completing parts of the journey on foot.<\/p>\n
The annual pilgrimage takes place during the final days of Safar, when mourners travel long distances to participate in commemorative ceremonies at the shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him). Despite differences in available facilities compared with the Arbaeen walking pilgrimage in Iraq, devotees continue to preserve this tradition and endure the hardships of the journey out of their devotion to Imam Reza.<\/p>\n
The pilgrimage also carries historical significance, as Imam Reza (peace be upon him) traveled through these regions centuries ago after being appointed crown prince by the Abbasid caliph al-Ma\u2019mun. During his journey from Medina toward Marv, the Imam passed through several cities, where people gathered to hear his teachings.<\/p>\n
Among the most famous events associated with this route is the narration of the Hadith of Silsilat al-Dhahab (The Golden Chain), delivered by Imam Reza in Nishapur. The hadith, transmitted through the chain of the infallible Imams and ultimately attributed to God Almighty, emphasizes the importance of monotheism and the role of divinely appointed leadership.<\/p>\n
To support the growing number of pilgrims, 320 public service stations have been established along the roads leading to Mashhad, with around 20,000 volunteers providing services, including food, accommodation, and assistance. In addition, residents of the Sunni Muslim village of Jamalzadeh, located about 45 kilometers from Mashhad, are offering free hospitality to pilgrims for three days as part of their annual tradition.<\/p>\n
Numerous service stations have also been set up along the Nishapur-Mashhad route, with additional facilities created to improve safety and comfort for pedestrians. Local communities and volunteer groups across the region are participating in welcoming pilgrims.<\/p>\n
Organized walking groups have joined the pilgrimage from different areas, including 190 caravans from Taybad, Khaf, Torbat-e Jam, and Fariman, as well as 100 caravans from North Khorasan and groups departing from Sarakhs. Along northern routes, dozens of roadside religious centers, mosques, and prayer areas have been prepared to assist visitors.<\/p>\n
A notable group participating this year is an Iraqi volunteer caravan that has continued a tradition since around 2011 of walking from Iraq to the Shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him). During its 16th journey, the group briefly stopped at the Imam Ali Mosque in Tehran\u2019s Dowlatabad district before continuing toward Mashhad to complete their pilgrimage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hundreds of Thousands of Pilgrims Walk Toward Imam Reza Shrine in Mashhad to Mark End of Safar ———————————————– The roads leading to Mashhad have witnessed a massive influx of pilgrims walking toward the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him) as the end of Safar approaches. Pilgrims have been arriving from different regions …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":144694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_108372464460192_245495985553329":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-144695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-atabat"],"yoast_head":"\n