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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A woman, sitting on the ground with her child, makes a face along Assi Ghat, in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A woman places a piece of bread in her child's hand, both of them sat on the ground along Assi Ghat, in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Detail of a sunlit door and a wall painted with flowers on a street in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A brightly dressed, one-eyed man, walks along Assi Ghat in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A decorated heritage Peepal Tree along Assi Ghat, in Varanasi, India, March 19, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Detail of a sunlit door and a wall painted with flowers on a street in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Detail of a towel and a pair of trousers hanging on a clothesline to dry in the sun on a street in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A shirtless boatman stands aboard his vessel moored with two other boats on the Ganga river in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A man ascends a tall flight of steps along Assi Ghat in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A woman, reflected in wet stone tiles, sweeps garbage along Assi Ghat, in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Close-up of the back of a man's brightly scarf-wrapped head along Assi Ghat, in Varanasi, India, March 20, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Daily Life in Varanasi - India

Daily Life in Varanasi - India

A man reads a book of scripture resting on a rehal in his dooryway in Varanasi, India, March 19, 2025. Varanasi is one of the world's oldest inhabited cities. Sitting on the Ganga River, Varanasi holds a central place in Hindu life and death rituals. Photo by Alex Gist/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Idol Immersion in India

Idol Immersion in India

Relatives and guests pose together in front of the Durga Puja altar at the Shib Krishna Daw House in Kolkata, India on October 2, 2025. The Daw family’s Durga Puja, dating back to 1839, is among Kolkata’s oldest bonedi bari household pujas, where traditional rituals are performed inside the ancestral mansion rather than in public pandals. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Idol Immersion in India

Idol Immersion in India

Two women smear vermilion on each other’s faces during Sindoor Khela at the Shib Krishna Daw House in Kolkata, India on October 2, 2025. The Daw family’s Durga Puja, dating back to 1839, is among Kolkata’s oldest bonedi bari household pujas, where traditional rituals are performed inside the ancestral mansion rather than in public pandals. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Idol Immersion in India

Idol Immersion in India

Women pose before the Durga idol after completing Sindoor Khela at the Shib Krishna Daw House in Kolkata, India on October 2, 2025. The Daw family’s Durga Puja, dating back to 1839, is among Kolkata’s oldest bonedi bari household pujas, where traditional rituals are performed inside the ancestral mansion rather than in public pandals. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Idol Immersion in India

Idol Immersion in India

Women dressed in traditional saris place their hands together during the Sindoor Khela ritual at the Shib Krishna Daw House in Kolkata, India on October 2, 2025. The Daw family’s Durga Puja, dating back to 1839, is among Kolkata’s oldest bonedi bari household pujas, where traditional rituals are performed inside the ancestral mansion rather than in public pandals. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Idol Immersion in India

Idol Immersion in India

Women in saris pose before the Durga idol after completing Sindoor Khela at the Shib Krishna Daw House in Kolkata, India on October 2, 2025. The Daw family’s Durga Puja, dating back to 1839, is among Kolkata’s oldest bonedi bari household pujas, where traditional rituals are performed inside the ancestral mansion rather than in public pandals. Photo by Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Parents bring a small child to a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. The event marks the eighth day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, with mourning rituals observed under tight security and political sensitivities. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A large crowd of Kashmiri Shiite Muslims joins a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. Marking the eighth day of Ashura, the gathering commemorates Imam Hussain’s martyrdom with rituals of mourning and reflection under tight security. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A Kashmiri Shiite woman carries a flag during a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025, the eighth day of the Islamic holy month. Part of the Ashura mourning period, the event commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussain through rituals like chest-beating and elegy recitations, reflecting deep religious devotion amid heightened political sensitivities. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Women attend as a large number of Kashmiri Shiite Muslims take part in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. The ceremony marks the eighth day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain with mourning rituals held under tight security and political sensitivities. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A young man with his face painted in the Palestinian flag takes part in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. The ceremony marks the eighth day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, with mourning rituals held under tight security and political sensitivities, as the face paint symbolizes humanity and support. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A large crowd of Kashmiri Shiite Muslims joins a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. Marking the eighth day of Ashura, the gathering commemorates Imam Hussain’s martyrdom with rituals of mourning and reflection under tight security. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A mother brings a small child to a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. The event marks the eighth day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, with mourning rituals observed under tight security and political sensitivities. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A large crowd of Kashmiri Shiite Muslims joins a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. Marking the eighth day of Ashura, the gathering commemorates Imam Hussain’s martyrdom with rituals of mourning and reflection under tight security. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

Kashmiri Shiites Mark Muharram Mourning - India

A young man with his face painted in the Palestinian flag takes part in a Muharram procession in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on July 4, 2025. The ceremony marks the eighth day of Ashura, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, with mourning rituals held under tight security and political sensitivities, as the face paint symbolizes humanity and support. Photo by Umar Altaf/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Illustration - Pays-Basque

Illustration - Pays-Basque

FRANCE, AQUITAINE, PYRENEES ATLANTIQUES, BASQUE COUNTRY, SAINT-ETIENNE-DE-BAIGORRY, AMONG THE CARNIVAL RITUALS, LIBERTIMENDUA IS THE OCCASION FOR A BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE VILLAGES COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE JOYFULLY AND DANCE. HERE THE DANCERS CALLED ?BOLANTAK? Photo by Severine Dabadie/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Illustration - Pays-Basque

Illustration - Pays-Basque

FRANCE, AQUITAINE, PYRENEES ATLANTIQUES, BASQUE COUNTRY, SAINT-ETIENNE-DE-BAIGORRY, AMONG THE CARNIVAL RITUALS, LIBERTIMENDUA IS THE OCCASION FOR A BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THE VILLAGES COME TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE JOYFULLY AND DANCE. HERE THE DANCERS CALLED ?BOLANTAK? Photo by Severine Dabadie/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Illustration - Pays-Basque

Illustration - Pays-Basque

FRANCE, AQUITAINE, PYRENEES ATLANTIQUES, BASQUE COUNTRY, LACARRY, AN ANCESTRAL TRADITION IN THE BASQUE COUNTRY, THE MASQUERADE IS ONE OF THE UNCHANGING RITUALS AT THE START OF THE YEAR. HERE, IT IS PLAYED ON THE FRONTON OF THE SMALL VILLAGE OF LACARRY (LAKARRI). A BASQUE DANCER (TRADITIONAL DANCE) PLAYING THE ROLE OF ?ZAMALZAIN?, THE HORSE DANCER, IS JUMPING Photo by Severine Dabadie/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Shia Muslim Chehlum - India

Participants perform traditional mourning rituals during the Chehlum procession in Prayagraj, India, on August 15, 2025. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen, is a Shia Muslim religious observance held 40 days after Ashura to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in the Battle of Karbala in the 7th century. Photo by Sanjay Kanojia/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Shop and Logo - Shopping Center - Rambouillet

Shop and Logo - Shopping Center - Rambouillet

Logo and store for the Rituals ... cosmetics brand in the Bel Air shopping center in Rambouillet. Rambouillet, Yvelines, France August 11, 2025. Photo by Christopher Charpaud/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Mourning of Bani Assad on the 13th of Muharram in Karbala, Iraq. On July 9, 2025, Shiite Muslim mourners participate in the traditional commemoration known as the Mourning of Bani Assad, which takes place annually on the 13th of Muharram in the Islamic calendar. The ritual honors the women of the Bani Assad tribe who, according to tradition, buried the unrecognized bodies of Imam Hussein and his companions after the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Dressed in black, participants gather near the holy shrine of Imam Hussein, chanting elegies and performing mourning processions to express grief and solidarity. This deeply symbolic event reflects the enduring historical and spiritual significance of Karbala for Shiite communities across the world, especially during the sacred month of Muharram, which marks the martyrdom of one of the most revered figures in Shia Islam. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Karbala Rituals - Iraq

Karbala Rituals - Iraq

The representation of the incident of TAF by the people of the city of Al-Ghomas in Karbala on July 8, 2025. This theatrical reenactment, known as "Taf," commemorates the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, where Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was martyred. Participants dress in traditional costumes and dramatize the events of Ashura to honor the sacrifice and stand for justice that Imam Hussein represents in Shia Islam. The annual performance attracts large crowds and serves as a powerful cultural and religious expression of devotion, grief, and historical memory. The city of Karbala becomes a focal point for mourning rituals during Muharram, reinforcing collective identity and spiritual connection for millions of Shia Muslims. Photo by Samer Al Husseini/Middle East Images/ABACAPRESS.COM

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