00:00This year's urban commemorations in Karbala have set a new record for
00:29pilgrimage attendance. According to the management of the Hazrat Abbas Air Shrine,
00:35an astonishing 21.48 million Muslims gathered in the Iraqi holy city for this significant
00:43religious event. This massive turnout highlights Erbian as one of the world's largest religious
00:52gatherings. Among the crowds of pilgrims were approximately 3.5 million from Iran,
01:01a notable figure reflecting the strong participation from neighbouring countries. Pilgrims also
01:08came from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Kuwait, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other nations.
01:16Erbian, which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussain, attracts
01:23millions who travel to Karbala to pay their respects. Imam Hussain A.S., the grandson
01:30of the Prophet Muhammad and the third Shia Imam, is commemorated during this period and
01:37pilgrims seek to touch the glided grail surrounding his tomb and slip messages through the bars.
01:44The pilgrimage is characterised by participants carrying their belongings in backpacks or
01:50bags, many making the journey on foot from various directions toward Karbala. The holy
01:57city is home to two significant mausoleums, one for Imam Hussain A.S. and the other for
02:04his brother, Abbas ibn Ali, facing each other. This year, Erbian has also seen a strong display
02:13of solidarity with Palestinians. Many pilgrims have prominently displayed Palestinian flags
02:20in response to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza. Since October 7 of last year, Israel's
02:27military operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of at least 40,334 Palestinians,
02:35with the majority being women and children. Additionally, around 93,356 Palestinians
02:43have sustained injuries as a result of the aggression. The massive turnout for Erbian
02:50underscores not only the profound religious significance of the event but also reflects
02:56broader geopolitical and humanitarian sentiments resonating among the pilgrims.
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