HOLY KARBALA, Iraq: An estimated 14 million devotees of Ahlil Bayt (AS) observed Arbainiyah Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS) under tight security in the Iraqi shrine city of Karbala on Monday Safar 20, February 16, according to Iraq officials.

Under the gaze of rooftop snipers, crowds of mourners chanting "Ya, Hussein" passed through the mausoleums of Imam Hussein (AS) and his half-brother Abbas (AS) for the Arbaeen (40 days) ceremony.

They punched their chests with their fists to signify their grief on the unjust killing of Al-Imam Al-Hussein (AS), while others brandished green and black flags.

Karbala officials said millions of pilgrims have passed through the city over the past week, eight million of them having travelled long distances on foot to mark the end of the 40-day mourning period.

Karbala province's police chief Ali Jassem Mohammed said 30,000 police and soldiers, including plainclothes officers and snipers, were deployed, with security cameras installed at key junctions around shrines and along the roads.

About 1,500 policewomen were tasked with searching female pilgrims.

It was impossible to confirm the massive turnout figure which would make it five times bigger than the annual hajj pilgrimage to holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

He appealed for motorists to help the returning pilgrims and to descend on the city to drive them home.

Iraqi state-run television and other private channels aired live footage showing the streets of the city were clearly overwhelmed with sea of black-clad pilgrims filling the wide avenues and narrow back-streets.

Processions of elderly, young men and children, marched through thousands of other pilgrims, waving green, black and red flags, at the wide avenue in front of Imam Hussein (AS) shrine.

"I can't say that security situation is good 100 percent, but it is certainly better than before," Wisam Amin, 38, a civil servant told reporters at a checkpoint in southern Baghdad.

Salam Abdul Hussein, a college student, said "we are not bothered by the tight security measures because we understand that it is necessary."

Ali Yasir, 25, a pilgrim said "we trust security and I feel safe, and I want to tell those terrorists that your attacks won't deter us from doing our religious duty."

A police officer, who declined to be named said "the unprecedented numbers of worshippers is making the big challenge today that how can we secure transportation for those great numbers of people to get back their homes."