Alwaght- Every year, millions of pilgrims commemorate the fortieth night. This year (13 December 2014), unprecedented numbers of pilgrims travelled to Karbala .
According to Iraqi local sources more than 20 million came to Karbala and made the largest peaceful gathering in the world so far, Shafaqna reported.
The pilgrimage of Arbaeen in Karbala, Iraq, has consistently been the largest peaceful gathering of humanity in a single day. This figure confirmed by International Business Times as stated: "The Iraqi government confirmed that the number of pilgrims in the city of Karbala for the annual Arbaeen (Arbain) pilgrim has reached a record 17.5 million this year. Some local sources report the number might cross 20 million by the day of Arbaeen on 13 December". Also, Alarabiya reported "Iraqi Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi said Thursday that the number of pilgrims in the city of Karbala for the annual Arbaeen commemoration had reached a record 17.5 million this year. Arbaeen, which marks the end of the 40-day period of mourning after the anniversary of Imam Hussein’s death, is considered one of the largest religious gatherings in the world". In another report, BBC stated ""Huge numbers of Shia Muslim pilgrims have gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala for the climax of a key festival, despite threats of violence. Iraq says up to 17 million made the pilgrimage over 40 days this year, more than a million from Iran, and many remain for the ceremony of Arbaeen ".
