17/08/2025
MLA Amin Patel and Corporator Javed Juneja, Join Arbaeen Walk from Najaf to Karbala
Congress MLA Amin Patel and corporator Javed Juneja are among the thousands of Mumbai residents participating in the Arbaeen pilgrimage, a nearly 90 km walk from Najaf to Karbala in Iraq. The Arbaeen, or ‘fortieth’ in Arabic, marks 40 days after Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain in the Battle of Karbala in 860 CE. Despite scorching daytime temperatures of 52°C, many pilgrims, including Patel and Juneja, prefer walking at night to reach Hussain’s mausoleum in Karbala.
“This is not just a physical walk. It has deep spiritual significance, honoring Imam Hussain, who sacrificed his life for justice, truth, and peace,” said Patel from Karbala on Wednesday. Patel and Juneja, along with others, completed the three-night journey from Najaf to Karbala, enduring significant hardships to show solidarity with Hussain’s legacy.
The Arbaeen walk, one of the largest public gatherings globally, symbolizes the commemoration of Imam Hussain’s stand against the Umayyad king Yazid. Many Indian pilgrims, including those from Mumbai, carry the national flag, as Arbaeen coincides with Independence Day on August 15.
