Shia Muslims around the world are preparing to start processions marking the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and 72 of his companions.
The mourners have begun heading to the Iraqi city of Karbala, where the shrine of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is located.
The month-long mourning rituals, covering the whole of the first month of the lunar calendar year, Muharram, will start on Sunday morning and will reach their most important point on Ashura -- the tenth day of Muharram.
Ashura, which falls on December 6 this year, marks the day, when the forces of the second Umayyad caliph martyred Imam Hussein (PBUH) and 72 of his companions in Karbala more than 14 centuries ago.
Muslims in Iran are also commemorating the occasion during the days leading up to Ashura.
Hussein ibn Ali (PBUH) was born in Medina, Saudi Arabia in 626 CE and was martyred in 680 CE during the battle in Karbala. He is the son of Ali-ibn Abutalib (PBUH), the first Shia Imam.
Ashura ceremonies symbolize the eternal and unwavering stance of truth against falsehood and humanity's struggle against tyranny realized by Imam Hussein (PBUH).
Iranian mourners usually congregate at mosques for sorrowful, poetic recitations of the tragic event or Ta’zieh, performed in the memory of the Imam’s martyrdom. Ta’zieh means the depiction of the Imam and his companions' agonizing martyrdom or one of the incidents related to the Karbala tragedy.
