INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Iranian and foreign Arbaeen pilgrims have crossed the Iran-Iraq border at Mehran, western Ilam province, the provincial tourism chief has
said.Of the number, some 1,496,632 pilgrims traveled to Iraq through the Mehran border, while 1,265,879 entered Iran, Farzad Sharifi
explained on Thursday.Mehran is a major border between Iran and Iraq and is among the most significant crossings, especially due to its
proximity to holy cities in Iraq
Between 500,000 and 600,000 people cross the border at this terminal every year.The annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, aka Arbaeen trek, is a
characteristic spiritual exercise in which hundreds of thousands of Shia and Sunni Muslims, even Christians and Zoroastrians, etc
from various nationalities participate.The religious treks will be destined for Karbala, where Imam Hussein (AS), the grandson of Prophet
Muhammad (PBUH), is laid to rest.The event marks an end to the 40-day mourning period following the martyrdom of the Imam and his loyal
