Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered in Baghdad. So far in the city is calm

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all areas of Iraq and from abroad arrived on Thursday on foot in Baghdad to participate in mourning ceremonies dedicated to the memory of Imam Musa al-Kazim, who lived in the VIII century. Following the ritual, dressed in all the black pilgrims sing mourning chants, torture themselves with lashes and beat their fists in the chest, AFP reports.

From self-flagellation and procession to the ancient Sunni quarter of al-Kazimia, where the Shiite mosque and the mausoleum of the seventh of the 12 most revered by Shiites of the imams is located, the main rite of pilgrims begins, ITAR-TASS reports. Then they must go around the shrine built in the 16th century with a golden dome and go inside to indulge in spiritual thoughts over the grave of Imam.

The pilgrim route runs through the central, most calm areas of the city. This is due to the fact that the main bridges connecting the al-Kazimia quarter with the rest of the city are blown up by militants or closed for security purposes.

Mourning processions are held in a calm atmosphere, no incidents are registered. In the morning of Wednesday in all of Baghdad, there is a commandant’s regime.

In 2005, about a thousand pilgrims were killed on this day during the religious ritual. As a result of a crush, provoked by the militants of pilgrims and rumors about the suicide bombers, frightened by possible terrorist attacks, in a panic began to look for salvation. Trying to get away from the pressure of the mass, rushed to the railing, which could not withstand the pressure and fell together with pilgrims into the river.