Why millions of pilgrims walk to Karbala every year for a centuries-old ritual

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Each year, millions of people converge on the Iraqi city of Karbala to mark Arba'in, the world's largest annual public gathering. While rooted in the martyrdom of Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, this massive pilgrimage has evolved into a complex symbol of faith, political defiance, and interfaith solidarity.

Arba'in marks the fortieth day after Ashura, the anniversary of the 680 CE Battle of Karbala. During this conflict, Husayn and his small retinue were killed by the army of the Umayyad caliph Yazid. For Shia Muslims, this event is a foundational moment of mourning and a powerful symbol of justice against oppression. While the pilgrimage is deeply embedded in Shia identity, its historical origins are debated. Some traditions suggest the event began when Husayn's relatives returned to Karbala after captivity, but scholars like Mahmoud M. Ayoub have questioned the veracity of these accounts, noting the absence of Arba'in in early texts like the Kamil al-ziyarat.

The pilgrimage was suppressed for decades under Saddam Hussein, who viewed large-scale Shia gatherings as a political threat. Since his removal in 2003, the event has seen explosive growth, with attendance figures rising from two million in 2003 to over twenty million in recent years. This resurgence has transformed the pilgrimage into a significant geopolitical statement, reflecting shifts in regional power dynamics and the resilience of the Shia community against extremist groups like ISIL. The walk, often starting in Najaf, is defined by the extraordinary hospitality of volunteers who provide free food, medical care, and lodging to millions of travelers.

Beyond its religious and political dimensions, the pilgrimage has become a site of critical academic inquiry. Sociologist Hossein Solati argues that the modern Arba'in walk is a constructed cultural phenomenon rather than a static, ancient tradition. By applying a genealogical lens, Solati suggests that the current scale and form of the pilgrimage are inseparable from the political imperatives of post-revolutionary Iran. This perspective challenges the idea of a singular, timeless narrative, instead framing the pilgrimage as a dynamic space where contemporary identity is actively negotiated, contested, and produced amidst shifting power relations.

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