Ceremony Held in Tehran to See Off Arbaeen Pilgrims, Servants
Among them were also some of the personnel of Tehran Municipality who will serve the pilgrims in Iran and Iraq during the Arbaeen season.
The Imam Khomeini (RA) Mosalla (prayer hall) hosted the ceremony, which included a speech delivered by prominent cleric Hojat-ol-Islam Ali Reza Panahian as well as elegy recitations and poetry reading.
In an address, Mayor of Tehran Ali Reza Zakani said the Municipality of Tehran will set up Moukebs (resting places) in border crossings and on the road between Najaf and Karbala in Iraq to serve the pilgrims.
He said the personnel of the municipality taking part in the Arbaeen procession provide different services in the fields of health, security, safety and cleaning, among others.
Some 1,500 staff of the municipality will be stationed in Moukebs in five border crossings while 1,000 others will travel to Najaf and Karbala.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen falls on September 17.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
Iraqi officials say some 20 million pilgrims are expected to take part in the procession this year.
14010610000397
