A view of Imam Hussein Shrine decorated with roses. Photo: 964media
Sha'ban celebrations in Karbala
Imam Hussein shrine adorned with over 100,000 roses
KARBALA – The Imam Hussein Shrine has been adorned with more than 100,000 roses to mark the start of Sha’ban and to honor the birth anniversaries of Shiite Imams in the month’s first half, including Imam Al-Hussein, Imam Al-Sajjad, Imam Al-Mahdi, and Abu Fadl Al-Abbas.
The celebrations, scheduled to commence on Tuesday, will kick off with the observance of Imam Hussein’s birth, followed by tributes to other Imams from the Ahl al-Bayt, the descendants of the Prophet Mohammed’s family.
Wahab Abdul Hussein, head of the Decoration Department at the Imam Hussein Shrine, stated to 964media, “As Sha’ban begins, we have prepared over 110,000 natural roses of various kinds, crafted into garlands, to decorate Imam Hussein’s shrine.”
The floral designs, created by decoration experts, span more than 50 square meters and feature a wide selection of roses, including those cultivated locally and others sourced from around the world.
The assortment of roses used encompasses Dutch roses in a range of colors, miniature roses, small chrysanthemums, gerberas, gypsophila, and lilies.
The creation of the floral garlands involved 24 hours of effort from the shrine’s decoration and landscaping team, in addition to 25 volunteers.
In Shiite Islam, the figures celebrated during Sha’ban embody core principles such as justice, piety, and sacrifice. Imam Al-Hussein’s martyrdom at Karbala highlights resistance against oppression, while his son Imam Al-Sajjad is noted for his devotion and contributions to Shiite spiritual literature.