Millions of Shiite flux into al-Najaf, Karbalaa
Iraq-Regional, Local, 5/4/2002

Millions of Shiite believers will head during this time of the year into the holy shrines in al- Najaf and Karbalaa in Iraq to commemorate the death of al-Hussein, the third Shiite Imam.

The pilgrims come from all parts of Iraq, and also from Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Iran to visit the tomb of Imam al-Hussein in Karbalaa, 100 km to the south of Baghdad and also the tomb of his father Imam Ali in al-Najaf, 80 km to the south. In Karbalaa crowds of pilgrims were gathered on Friday in the shrine which is topped by a dome and two golden minarets and also includes the tomb of Imam al-Hussein who was killed in 684 AD, together with members of his family at the hand of the Umayyads.

The pilgrims, men and women, hurried to just touch the silver and golden fence of the tomb and to kiss it and many of them burst into tears while doing so. Most of the pilgrims put coins or jwellery through the openings of the fence whose ceiling and part of its walls are covered with small mirrors. Just few meters from the Shrine, there is the hotel of al-Hussein land which is crowded by visitors.

However, estimates said that between 7 to 8 million Shiite perform al- Haj rituals to Karbalaa every year to commemorate the anniversary of Imam al-Hussein assassination and his brother Imam al-Abbas who was also killed in the same battle.

Before visiting Karbalaa the pilgrims visit the tomb of Imam Ali who was killed in 661 AD.

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