BAGHDAD, Iraq: Millions of Shiite pilgrims on Wednesday ended their week-long pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Imam Moosa al-Kadhim (PBUH) in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
During the past few days, several million Shiite pilgrims visited the shrine of the seventh of the most revered 12 Shiite Imams, an official from the mausoleum, told a press conference after the end of the ritual.
The pilgrims marched on foot or by bus from places across Iraq and abroad to commemorate the death of Imam Musa al-Kadhim at his golden-tomb mausoleum in the center of the old part of the holy Shiite Kadhimiya district in northern Baghdad.
Dozens of tents were set up on the streets leading to the shrine to serve water, food and medication to the pilgrims.
People clad in black and accompanied by drummers were marching in lines in honor of Imam Musa al-Kadhim who was poisoned to death while in prison in A.D. 799 (25th Rajab, 183 AH) during the reign of Abbasid caliph Haroon ar-Rashid.
Mourning had reached on climax on 25th of Rajab, Martyrdom day of Imam al-Kadhim (PBUH), when replica of coffin of revered Imam was brought in Holy mausoleum of Kadhmiya.