Speaking to the Tasnim News Agency, Saeed Ohadi touched upon the measures taken in preparation for the influx of Iranian pilgrims to Karbala to attend the Arbaeen mourning ceremony in early December.
“The Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization has announced that from its point of view, the main priority is to provide various facilities for those keen to take part in the Arbaeen ceremony…,” he said, adding that helping to strengthen their presence is the organization’s main priority.
The official further said some 100 passport gates have been set up in Mehran border crossing in the western province of Ilam and about 50 others have been built on Iraqi soil to facilitate the crossing of pilgrims.
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).
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.