(29 Aug 2020) Thousands of Shiite Muslims have begun the march towards the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas in Karbala, Iraq, as faithful prepare to mark Ashura.
Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and one of Shia Islam's most important figures.
As well as the grand Ashura processions, the most visual of these rituals is the flagellation.
Participants beat their backs with chains in time to drums and clashing cymbals.
For Shiites, who represent over 10 percent of the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, the remembrance of Hussein is an emotional event that sees many believers weep over his death at the Battle of Karbala in present-day Iraq.
Hussein died on 10 October, 680 AD in Karbala.
The event contributed massively to the schism that led to the split between the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam.
Ashura falls the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic lunar calendar.
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