Ashura 2017 photos: Shia Muslims around the world mark holiest month of Muharram
The holiest day in the Shia calendar is observed on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year, to mourn the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
Shia Muslims around the world have taken part in ceremonies to mark the religious festival of Ashura, or "Day of Remembrance". The holiest day in the Shia Muslim calendar is observed each year on the 10th day of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic year, to mourn the 7th century death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. His martyrdom is considered a defining event in the schism between Sunni and Shia Muslims.
IBTimes UK shares photos of Ashura commemorations around the world, from getting covered in mud in Iran to reenacting the battle in which Hussein was killed and beheaded by his enemies and a march through London celebrating both Ashura and the many victories over Isis in Iraq and Syria.
An Iranian Shia Muslim man rolls over in a mud pond during the Kharrah Mali (Mud Rubbing) ritual to mark the Ashura religious holiday in the city of Khorramabad, some 470 kms southwest of TehranAtta Kenare/AFPAn Iranian Shia Muslim man covered in mud poses for a photo during an Ashura ceremony in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPIranian Shia Muslims covered in mud gather around a bonfire during the Kharrah Mali (Mud Rubbing) ritual in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPIranian Shia Muslim women wearing mud-covered robes dry off beside a bonfire in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPIranian Shia Muslim men covered in mud dry themselves around a fire in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPAn Iranian Shia Muslim woman is seen after rubbing mud on her body during the Kharrah Mali (Mud Rubbing) ritual to mark Ashura in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPAn Iranian Shia Muslim man smokes a cigarette as he waits for his mud to dry during an Ashura ritual in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPShia Muslim women mourn as they watch a Muharram procession to mark Ashura, in Ahmedabad, IndiaAmit Dave/ReutersA man performs during the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala in the holy city of Najaf, IraqHaidar Hamdani/AFPIraqi Shia Muslims take part in a reenactment of the Battle of Karbala in the southern city of BasraHaidar Mohammed Ali/AFPAn Iraqi Shia man takes part in the reenactment of the Battle of Karbala in the holy city of NajafHaidar Hamdani/AFPIraqi Shia Muslim men in Basra watch a reenactment of the Battle of Karbala and mourn the seventh century slaying of Prophet Mohammed's grandson Imam HusseinHaidar Mohammed Ali/AFPIranians dressed in historical costumes take part in an Ashura procession in the city of KhorramabadAtta Kenare/AFPDuring a religious procession in Karachi, Pakistani Shia Muslim women touch a horse symbolising the one used by Imam Hussein in battleRizwan Tabassum/AFPMuslims beat their chests during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura, in Jammu, the winter capital of the state of Jammu and KashmirMukesh Gupta/ReutersA bleeding Shia Muslim man is sprayed with rose water as he flagellates himself during a Muharram procession in MumbaiDanish Siddiqui/ReutersShia Muslim men rest in front of a closed shop after flagellating themselves during a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in KolkataRupak De Chowdhuri/ReutersIraqi children take part in a traditional mourning event during Ashura commemorations in the holy city of NajafHaidar Hamdani/AFPLebanese Shia Muslim boys take part in a flagellation ceremony marking Ashura in the southern city of NabatiehMahmoud Zayyat/AFPAn Iraqi Shia Muslim man receives medical treatment after taking part in Ashura commemorations in the holy city of NajafHaidar Hamdani/AFPA Shia Muslim man living in Greece prepares a horse to take part in a Muharram procession to mark Ashura in Piraeus, near AthensCostas Baltas/ReutersShia Muslim migrants to Greece mourn during the commemoration of the religious holiday of Ashura at an industrial area of Piraeus, near AthensLouisa Gouliamaki/AFPA woman holds a baby dressed in historical costume as Shia Muslims attend a prayer at Syntagma square in Athens to mark the religious holiday of AshuraLouisa Gouliamaki/AFPGirl scouts affiliated to Hezbollah march as they mark the Shia Muslim holiday of Ashura in a southern suburb of BeirutPatrick Baz/AFPLebanese Shia Muslim women affiliated to Hezbollah student movements march during a parade marking Ashura in BeirutPatrick Baz/AFPWomen hold up chains as they take part in a religious procession held for the Shia holiday of Ashura in IstanbulYasin Akgul/AFPTurkish Shia men take part in a procession held for Ashura in IstanbulYasin Akgul/AFPShia Muslim women take part in an Ashura procession in Istanbul, TurkeyYasin Akgul/AFPA young girl takes part in a religious procession held for the Shia Muslim holiday of Ashura in IstanbulYasin Akgul/AFPTurkish Shia Muslim women take part in a religious procession held for the religious holiday of Ashura in IstanbulYasin Akgul/AFPMuslims holding banners and placards denouncing Isis take part in the annual Ashura march along Oxford Street in LondonJack Taylor/Getty ImagesMuslims carry flags as they arrive in Trafalgar Square at the end of the annual Ashura marchJack Taylor/Getty ImagesPeople listen to a speaker in Trafalgar Square following the annual march in London to mark Ashura and celebrate the many defeats of Isis in Iraq and SyriaJack Taylor/Getty ImagesMuslims gather with flags in Trafalgar Square following the annual Ashura march in LondonJack Taylor/Getty Images
Ashura marks the start of a 40-day mourning period that culminates in Arbaeen – where millions of Shia Muslims gather in Iraq's holy city of Karbala in the world's biggest annual pilgrimage. Iraqi state-run media said more than 22 million pilgrims visited Karbala in 2016, setting a record for the annual pilgrimage, though that figure could not be independently verified.
