AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Members of the Iranian Quranic convoy have so far staged 650 different programs for Arbaeen pilgrims, an official said.
Members of the convoy have held 650 Quranic circles with two days remaining to the occasion of Arbaeen, Seyed Mohammad Moojani, head of the Iranian Arbaeen Headquarters’ Quranic Committee, told IQNA on Friday.
He praised the number of programs as "significant and great."
He noted that the data includes 60 circles staged by female qaris. "Given the warm welcome of programs held by women, the number of female members of the convoy will increase in the next years," he said.
The Arbaeen Quranic convoy includes 98 Iranians and 34 foreign nationals from 14 countries, such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Nigeria, India, and Pakistan.
The activities of the convoy will run for 12 days, Moojani said earlier.
Male and female qaris as well as Tawasheeh group members will hold various programs on different paths towards Kabala during the Arbaeen season, he said.
The programs will conclude with a Quranic circle in Karbala on the eve of Arbaeen, he added.
The Arbaeen mourning ceremony is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
It marks the 40th day after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of the grandson of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), Imam Hussein (AS). This year’s Arbaeen falls on August 25.
Each year, a huge crowd of Shias flock to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rites.
The pilgrims, mainly from Iraq and Iran, travel long routes on foot to the holy city.
The members of the Iranian convoy perform different Quranic and religious programs, including recitation of the Quran, Adhan (call to prayers), and Tawasheeh on the road between Najaf and Karbala during the Arbaeen march.
......................
End/ 257