The Arbaeen pilgrimage and walk, over the past decade, has gradually changed from a regional religious rite and ritual into a major event with transregional participation.
The number of Arbaeen pilgrims has been on an upward trend in recent years. So that the number of participants has risen from 11.2 million people in 1395 (2016/17) to 21.4 million people in 1403 (2024/25). The unprecedented record of 1402 (2023/24) (22 million people) still stands, of course.
Interestingly, even in the years of restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic (1399 (2020/21) and 1400 (2021/22)), the Arbaeen ceremony was not interrupted and was held in a more limited form and with restrictions observed.
These figures not only indicate quantitative growth, but also reflect a deep shift in the standing of Arbaeen as one of the symbols of the unity of the Islamic ummah; a rite that day by day more fully crosses national borders and becomes a manifestation of solidarity.
Read the full note "Arbaeen in the mirror of statistics; from millions of pilgrims to thousands of mawkibs" on the Namafar website.
See the original infographic (Persian)
Machine-translated from Persian by Namafar; the Persian original is authoritative. Read the original in Persian