300,000 pilgrims expected
Iranian pilgrims begin journey to Karbala through Haji Omaran border
HAJ OMARAN – The Haji Omaran border crossing has begun receiving Iranian pilgrims, with an estimated 300,000 expected to pass through en route to the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala in the next few weeks. Over the past five days, pilgrims have been crossing into Iraq, marking the start of the Arbaeen pilgrimage, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
Sirwan Barzani, spokesperson for the Haji Omaran border crossing authority, told 964Media, “For the past three years, Shia pilgrims have been traveling to Najaf and Karbala through the Haji Omaran gate. We have made all necessary preparations for this purpose.”
After crossing the border, pilgrims are transported to Kani Maran in the Ali Beg Valley, Soran, where they rest and receive food and accommodation. They then proceed to Erbil, where hundreds of buses are stationed at Sami Abdulrahman Park to transport them to their final destinations.
Arbaeen commemorates the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, who died in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Millions of Shia Muslims, including many from Iran, journey annually to Karbala to visit Imam Hussein’s shrine.
“Nearly 2,000 buses are prepared to transport pilgrims, with a daily capacity of moving 50,000 people,” Barzani added.
As part of its efforts to strengthen ties with neighboring Iran, the Kurdistan Regional Government has organized trips for Iranian pilgrims from Kurdistan to Karbala over the past few years. Iranian officials, including the late President Ebrahim Raisi, have expressed their appreciation for the KRG’s initiative.
Last year, 70,000 Iranian pilgrims traveled through the Haji Omran gate, with more than 50,000 returning via the same route. The Haji Omaran border crossing, located in the northeastern part of Iraq within the Erbil governorate, is a critical entry point for trade and travel between Iran and the Kurdistan Region, as well as for religious pilgrimages, particularly during Arbaeen. regions.
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