Millions of Iranians nationwide Wednesday attended mourning ceremonies on Arba’een, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS).
Black-clad mourners took to the streets and local mosques and other religious and community centers to participate in observances where elegies were recited in memory of Imam Hussein and his 72 loyal companions.
The mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Over two million Iranian pilgrims have traveled to Iraq for the Shiite ritual.
Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, home to the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (PBUH).
Meanwhile a large number of university students attended a mourning function at the residence of the Supreme Leader with Ayatollah Khamenei in attendance.
