Shi'ite pilgrims press on to Karbala despite scorching Iraqi heat

Shi'ite Muslim pilgrims gathered in Iraq's holy city of Karbala on Saturday (August 1) ahead of Arbaeen, enduring soaring summer temperatures as they visited the shrine of Imam Hussein.

The ritual comes 40 days after the death of the Muslim Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein, slain in battle nearly 1,400 years ago.

Arbaeen, meaning 40 in Arabic, is one of the most important rituals for Shi’ite Muslims. It has also become one of the world’s largest annual pilgrimages along with the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca.

Water sprayers, misting fans and shaded walkways were set up near the shrines as volunteers handed out chilled water to visitors carrying religious flags and banners.

"Despite the high temperatures and difficult weather conditions ... this has not been an obstacle for us," said Hammam Suhail, a visitor from Najaf.

Hospitals treated pilgrims for heat exhaustion and sunstroke, said Muhammad Ali, director of Safeer Imam Hussein Surgical Hospital.

 The Abbas holy shrine said it had installed shade cloth across more than 62,000 square metres and water sprayers and misting fans over more than 42,000 square metres, while deploying medical units and paramedics around the shrine and the old city.

The highest temperature recorded on Saturday (August 1) in Karbala was 50 degrees Celsius, according to the Iraqi Meteorological Organization.

Camera: Ahmed Saeed, Editing: Maher Nazeh, Production and Writing: Maher Nazeh and Imad Creidi/Reuters