Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei here on Monday cited Arbaeen rallies as an extraordinary phenomenon and an enormous and meaningful movement.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei here on Monday cited Arbaeen rallies as an extraordinary phenomenon and an enormous and meaningful movement.

Supreme Leader made the remarks while was addressing a gathering in Tehran.

Appreciating the Iraqi people for their benevolence in serving the pilgrims of the mourning ceremony of Arbaeen rituals, Ayatollah Khamenei advised the pilgrims to seize the momentous opportunity.

'The huge participation of people from Iran and other countries in Arbaeen rituals, portraits the unique characteristics of Ahlul-Bayt thought,' he added.

Over one and a half million of Iranian pilgrims have entered Iraq through three border points in Iran.

The Iranian pilgrims travelled to Iraq for Arbaeen Day through three border points including Mehran, Shalamcheh and Chazzabeh in southwestern Iran.

The Iranian officials have estimated that 2.5 million Iranian pilgrims would travel to Iraq for Arbaeen Day that is on December 2 this year.

The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.

It marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shiite Muslims.

Each year, pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located.

News ID 187998