AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The Awqaf and Charity Affairs Organization of Iran plans to set up more than 370 Moukebs during the Arbaeen march, the head of the organization said.
Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Mehdi Khamoushi made the remarks in a meeting of the Arbaeen cultural headquarters in Tehran on Tuesday.
He said the Moukebs are set up based on the wills of waqifs (those making endowments).
Referring to the hot weather predicted for the Arbaeen season this year, he said those serving the pilgrims in Iranian and Iraqi Moukebs do a significant job.
He also highlighted the cultural importance of Moukebs during the pilgrimage.
Moukebs, also pronounced Mowkibs, are makeshift tents set up annually on the road leading to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq, where Imam Hussein (AS) shrine is located.
Every year, with the first group of pilgrims beginning the long trek days before Arbaeen, the 40th day of Imam Hussein (AS) martyrdom in the battle of Karbala in 680 AD, Moukebs are also erected along the way.
They are put up by volunteers who provide pilgrims with free-of-charge food, beverages, accommodation, medicines, etc.
In addition, volunteer doctors also offer free health services to those who may have experienced a heat stroke, or other health conditions associated with such long walks.
......................
End/ 257