TEHRAN – More than 2.6 million pilgrims will enter Iraq for Aaaain between July 26th and August 8th, report Saturday.
Iman Merabinia, head of Iran’s Road Maintenance and Transportation Operations Hall, told ISNA news agency that Islamic pilgrims left Iran on the 14th day of Safa’s Islamic month through the intersection of six land borders. The numbers exclude people traveling in the air.
Mehran Border was the busiest intersection, accounting for 47% of all pilgrim traffic, followed by Shalamcheh (28%), Khosravi (14%), Chazabeh (8%), Tamarchin (2%) and Bashmaq (1%).
The traffic was heavy on the Ilamsalable route, which headed towards Melan before and after the Azadi tunnel, and the Holamshaal Shalamche route. However, the Qasr-e Shirin, Khosravi and Bostan-Chazabeh routes experienced smooth traffic flows.
No traffic jams have been reported at the border between Bashmaq and Tamarchin, officials noted.
Mehrabi Nia also said 828,323 pilgrims returned to Iran during the same period.
“The number of pilgrims leaving Iran has increased by 2% compared to last year.”
He added that 511,000 pilgrims left Iran during this period through public transport services.
Arbaeen marks the end of a 40-day period of mourning commemorating the martialism of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, at the Battle of Karbara in 680 AD. Millions of Shia Muslims take part in this pilgrimage every year, many walking long distances to arrive in Karbara, Iraq.
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