Arbaeen operations, heat prompt public holidays in four governorates

BAGHDAD — Karbala, Najaf, Basra and Babil have declared Wednesday a holiday for government offices, citing the Arbaeen pilgrimage, returning pilgrims and temperatures forecast to reach 50°C.

Karbala Provincial Council said the holiday recognized the work of residents, service departments, security forces and volunteers during the pilgrimage, and would let the city continue serving pilgrims still arriving while authorities reorganize and complete service operations.

Najaf’s provincial council cited both high temperatures and the efforts of government employees during Arbaeen, according to a statement from the governorate office quoting council chairman Hussein al-Issawi. Babil cited the volume of returning pilgrims passing through the governorate, with the holiday applying to all government offices except those working on the Arbaeen service plan. Basra Gov. Asaad al-Eidani suspended official working hours citing rising temperatures alone.

Basra and Najaf are forecast to reach 50°C on Wednesday, Karbala 48°C and Babil 47°C. About 20 million people took part in this year’s pilgrimage, the Imam Abbas Shrine said Tuesday, the lowest turnout it has reported since 2021.