Thousands of visitors head to Karbala to commemorate 40th day of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom

DIALA / IraqiNews.com: Thousands of visitors have began a long walk from Diala and Kirkuk provinces, heading towards the Shiite holy city of Karbala, passing through Diala’s Khalis city, to commemorate the 40th day of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom in the 7th century ad, among intensive security measures. IraqiNews.com’s correspondent has noticed that the visitors, including young men and women, carrying black and green placards, have spread on both sides of the main highway passing through the area, whilst citizens of towns and villages on both sides of the highway had served food and cold drinks for the visitors. He noticed an intensive presence of tanks, armored cars and other military vehicles along the main highway, in order to protect the visitors, along with medical teams to present medical services for the visitors. Muslims, particularly Shiites, celebrate the first 10 days of the Hijry Moharram Month of each year, that reach their climax on the 10th of the month, that commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein Bin-Ali, the 3rd Shiite Imam and members of  his family in Karabala in the Hijry year 61. Then they celebrate the 40th day of the Imam’s martyrdom by a long walk towards Karabala from different Iraqi cities. (S/T) / SKH/SR 467