Alwaght- Hundreds of thousands of people in the Iranian capital Tehran and other cities who have not gotten the chance to join millions in the holy city of Karbala in Iraq have started their symbolically-branded “march of Arbaeen stragglers” to mark the world’s biggest human congregation.
People from all walks of life are enthusiastically joining the religious procession. The capital is the scene of biggest of the nationwide processions.
The march is a simulation of the larger scale marches underway since nearly a month ago in Iraq that culminate in the day of Arbaeen in the holy city of Karbala, the site of burial of Imam Hussain, the third Shiite Imam and the grandson of Prophet.
Days before today’s march, people on social media issued calls and invitations for the gathering to make the festival a replica of that underway in Karbala.
The procession is also attended by government officials. IRGC Commander Hussein Salami is one of the officials joining festival.
The marchers walk about 17 kilometers from the center of the capital to Shah Abdul Azim, a shrine of one of the grandsons of Imam Hussain in south of the capital.
Along the streets hosting the march, service stations, or mawkebs, have been set up to serve just like the services provides in the main Arbaeen procession in Karbala.
The services include drink and food provision, shoes polishing, and distributing brochures giving knowledge about a variety of issues.
The government also deployed ambulances and medical teams for emergency services to ensure that everyone attending the event is well.
Also, along the road, mosques and schools are open and provide resting stations for the marchers.
Cultural and entertainment stations are also established, providing amusement and other programs for children to make the procession even more fruitful and joyful.
“This is a great procession to join. We have many national events to attend over the year, but this one is special, because it is inspiring,” a young man, Reza, said when asked what brought him to the ceremony.
Others have their own reasons. “I am here because this year I could not travel to Karbala. Every year I travel, but this year I did not get the chance,” a man said.
This religious ceremony is increasingly growing as a national event in Iran and people mark the Arbaeen to insist that Imam Hussein remains a pattern and inspiration for freedom for a nation resisting all-out Western pressure for decades.
