what is arbaeen walk

The Arbaeen walk is an annual religious pilgrimage to the shrine of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad and the third Shia imam. It is the largest annual peaceful and public gathering attended by approximately 17 to 20 million people. Pilgrims from all over the world travel 50 miles from the holy city of Najaf to Karbala, which takes roughly three days to complete. The Arbaeen walk has turned into one of the most significant religious events in the world, and it is a symbol of Shia geopolitical privilege. The word "Arbaeen" translates to forty, which is the traditional period of mourning in Islamic culture.