‘Karbala is an emotion': As Iran-Israel war rages; Hyderabad residents put pilgrimage plan on hold
HYDERABAD: A group of at least 30 Shia pilgrims from Hyderabad was forced to delay their annual pilgrimage to Iraq and Iran due to rising tensions in the region between Iran and Israel.
The group, which includes people of various age groups, was originally scheduled to travel to Baghdad on Thursday, just ahead of Muharram starting on Friday, and Ashura (the 10th day of Muharram). They were part of a larger group of over 100 pilgrims from Mumbai, Lucknow, Jammu & Kashmir, and other states.
Every year, about one lakh Indian pilgrims travel to Iraq and Iran, including thousands from Hyderabad, said an official from the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Banjara Hills, adding that around 250 to 300 people from Hyderabad already left for Iran in early June for different purposes.
While the group is one such in Hyderabad, the total number of pilgrims from the city was expected to be in the hundreds.
However, the recent escalation in the conflict has put their plans on hold. 'After much discussion, we narrowed down four options — to wait and hope the situation improves soon, to cancel and take refunds with some deductions, to plan again next year, or to try going through another country. But even that seems almost impossible,' said a pilgrim from Banjara Hills, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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Eventually, on Monday, most of the pilgrims decided to postpone the trip by at least a month. They are now planning to travel in August for Arbaeen, which takes place 40 days after Ashura.
Meanwhile, this time, each pilgrim spent around Rs 1.4 to Rs 1.5 lakh for travel, accommodation, and other expenses. While some booked tickets as early as May, others made reservations in June.
'I usually go for Arbaeen, but this time I also planned to be there for Ashura.
In the 12-day trip to Iraq, we were supposed to visit the holy cities of Kazmain, Najaf, and Karbala. Some of us would have returned by July 7 or 8, while others would have gone on to Qom and Mashhad in Iran. But right now, all airspaces are closed except for Basra airport. We considered going via Qatar, but friends there advised us against it due to safety concerns,' said a pilgrim from Purani Haveli in the Old City.
Another pilgrim from the Old City said the delay left several group members dejected. 'We have been planning this trip for at least a year, if not more. Everyone is highly disappointed now. For us, Karbala is not just a destination — it's an emotion and a sacred experience that resonates deeply during Muharram. Some people are even ready to go if the conflict gets over tomorrow or the day after.'
Every year, millions of Shia Muslims from around the world travel to Karbala, especially for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. It is one of the largest religious gatherings globally, second only to the Hindu Kumbh Mela in scale.
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