Iraqi Pilgrims Mark Imam Hussein Arbaeen

Millions of pilgrims are marking Imam Hussein (AS) Arbaeen amidst beefed up security measures especially that hundreds of pilgrims have marched the path of martyrdom while descending on to Karbala.

Number of Husseini pilgrims who have entered the holy city of Karbala till February 1 to commemorate Arba'een Al-Husseini (the fortieth day after the martyrdom of Al-Imam Aba Abdellah Al-Hussein, peace be on him) reached five million, according to Othaman Al-Ghanami, chief of Al-Forat Al-Ausat operations. 

Arba'een (Safar 20) falls this year in Iraq on February 5. Officials hope that the number of pilgrims will increase to possibly 12 million on the day of Arbaeen. Pilgrims clad in black and carrying red, black and green flags were going to the shrine of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson.
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Iraqi authorities have deployed around 30,000 military and police officers on the roads leading to Karbala, in both fixed and mobile patrols. 

Tourist agencies in Karbala expect the arrival of 500,000 visitors from outside Iraq to take part in the rituals, besides millions coming from the different provinces of the country. Pilgrims from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bahrain, Kuwait, India and Pakistan are expected to fill the 320 hotels in the holy city.