Arbaeen in Karbala

On the eve of Arbaeen, 40th day of Imam Hussein martyrdom - grandson of the Prophet Mohammed- millions of lovers and followers swarm his shrine in Karbala on foot to pay homage to him.
Meanwhile, the deputy head of Karbala provincial council Nasim Jassem al-Khatabi expected that "over 16 million pilgrims are expected to attend the mourning ceremonies in Holy city for Arbaeen."
Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, opposed to Yazid’s (the ruler at that time) tyranny and was martyred along with 72 of his supporters in an unfair battle, showing exemplary acts of courage, and they were finally martyred and brought about an epic chapter in history which had great figures such as Gandhi, Edward Browne, Charles Dickens admire him with awe and respect.
Who is Imam Hussein?
More pictures

Arbaeen

Millions of mourners have gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala on Saturday and observed Arbaeen, the end of 40 days of mourning for the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein his 72 companions on Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram, at the hands of the army of the caliph Yazid in 680 CE.
More pics: 1, 2, 3

Muharram, month of grief

Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It's a month of remembrance that is often considered synonymous with the event of Ashura. Ashura, which literally means the "Tenth" in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram. It is well-known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of the grandson of prophet Muhammad, Imam Hussein ibn Ali, in modern-day Iraq 1,300 years ago.
Imam Hossein was martyred in the 680 A.D. battle fought on the plains outside Karbala, a city in modern Iraq that's home to the Imam's holy shrine and where 3 million Shiites gathered Tuesday to mark Ashoura.
"More than 28,000 security forces including back up troops from the interior ministry (police) in Baghdad were sent to control the security of the city," military officials said earlier this week.
The governor of Karbala province, said hundreds of thousands of foreigners had already arrived from countries such as Iran, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan and Tanzania.
In this month, shittes express their grief by sine-zani (beating the chest), zangir-zani (beating oneself with chains) and emerged as common features of the proliferating mourning-processions (dasta-gardani). Mourning for the martyred Imam also takes place in assemblies held in buildings erected especially for the purpose, known either as Hussainia or takia, as well as in mosques and private houses.
Read more: 1, 2

Pictures
Iran: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Karbala (Iraq): 1, 2
Turkey

Ashura, a factor for unity

Erdogan: Event of Ashura, a factor for unity of Sunnis and Shiites
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan participated on Thursday (17 Dec 2010) in Ashura ceremony in Istanbul, to be the first Prime Minister to attend a Ashura mourning ceremony in Turkey’s history.
Erdogan, has said that the martyrdom of Imam Hussein on the day of Ashura in Karbala is a factor for unity of Sunnis and Shiites.
According to Press TV, in an address to a mourning ceremony, commemorating Ashura in Istanbul, Turkey, Erdogan pointed out that the selflessness and courageousness of Imam Hussein and his faithful supporters, conveys the message of unity and fraternity for all world Muslims.
He further called for unity of all Muslims, across the globe.

to commemorate Ali-Asghar

Iranian women gathered their newborns to commemorate Ali-Asghar, the newborn son of Imam Hussein (AS).
The six-month-old baby Ali-Asghar was killed by an arrow that hit his throat while he was in his father’s arms on Ashura (the tenth of Muharram), which was the day Imam Hussein (AS) and his companions were martyred.
For the followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as), the first two months of the Islamic year are a time for grief and mourning. It was on the 10th of Muharram, 61 A.H/680 C.E that Imam Husayn (as) the grandson of the Holy Prophet (saw) was martyred in Karbala, "Ashura", meaning the tenth day. The Holy Imam went through great difficulties even after Ashura, and their grief and pain is remembered by their followers for two months. During these two months Shia"s try to avoid all forms of merry making. They are as one bereaved family, giving vent to their grief and sorrow through mourning rituals such as Majalis and Matam. This does not mean however that they make their lives miserable. Read more ...
more pics: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6