Millions Gather in Karbala for the Annual Arba'een Pilgrimage

Karbala, IRAQ — August 3, 2026: Millions of pilgrims and mourning processions gather in the holy city of Karbala to commemorate Arba'een, marking forty days after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad. The courtyards of the Imam Hussein Shrine and the area between the shrines of Imam Hussein and Al-Abbas are filled with worshippers performing religious rites amid extensive security and service arrangements. Pilgrims and Husseini processions from across Iraq and abroad continue to arrive as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings reaches its peak.
Photos: Muntazer Uday Sahib / MedPress