HOLY CITY OF KARBALA, Iraq: Every year, millions of Husseini mourners travel hundreds of miles, sometimes on foot, to honor Imam Hussein (peace be on him), a grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him and his holy progeny), marking the occasion of Arba’in (forty days after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein).

Arba’in falls on 20 Safar – the second lunar month.

This year, many pilgrims, including thousands from the southern city of Basra, began walking last week despite provincial elections that held on January 31. They said that otherwise they might not reach the holy shrine in Karbala by early February, the end of the traditional 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein (peace be on him).

"We started early because it's a long way from Faw to Karbala," said a marcher who identified himself as Achmed, referring to his hometown near Basra.

He said: "We need 17 days to get there."

Candidates in Basra were concerned that people who chose the procession over voting could skew the vote.

"There are thousands of people leaving the city on their way to Karbala, which means the percentage of voters will be reduced," said Hakim al-Mayahi, an independent candidate. "We will lose the voices of many voters."