HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Despite severe cold, the holy city of
Karbala has been witnessing massive majalis and mawakeb Husayni since
the first of Moharram.
The holy Hussayni and Abbasi mausoleums compounds and the area
between the two shrines are crammed with mourners for participation in
Husayni marasem (rites) from dawn to mid-night.
After passing through the streets of the holy city, the mawakeb
(mourning processions) come to the Abbasi shrine and then culminate at
the Husayni shrine to express solidarity with Husayni revolution.
A banner inscribed with the name of the maukeb lead the maukeb
followed by green and black A’alaam (standards). After the standards,
the participants wearing black mourning dresses stand in two opposite
lines; they beat their heads and chests along with husayni qasaed in
Husayni grief. Between these lines, stand the band of drummers. In the
end of the maukeb, rawadeed (elegists) stand to recite Husayni
elegies.
