Karbala, Religious pilgrimage center in central Iraq
Karbala is a city in central Iraq with over 700,000 residents, located in Karbala Governorate about 90 kilometers southwest of Baghdad in the desert region between the Euphrates and the Arabian Desert. The city spreads across a wide area with a walled old town in the north and modern neighborhoods extending southward.
In the year 680, the Battle of Karbala took place here, in which Husayn ibn Ali, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was killed along with his followers. This conflict shaped the division between Sunni and Shia Muslims and made the city a central place of remembrance.
The name Karbala comes from the Arabic words for grief and trial, reflecting the emotionally charged atmosphere during religious celebrations. Pilgrims often wear black clothing as a sign of mourning and participate in public processions that wind through the narrow lanes of the old quarter.
The city can be reached via main roads from the rest of Iraq, with traffic increasing considerably during religious holidays. Visitors should wear clothing that covers arms and legs, and be aware of the large crowds that gather in the streets around the shrines.
The local Bani Asad tribal community performed the first burial rites after the battle, laying the foundations for the present-day burial sites. Some pilgrims carry small clay tablets made from Karbala soil, which they place on the ground during prayer.
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