Shi'ite Muslims on this year's pilgrimage to the holy Iraqi city of Kerbala beat themselves with metal flails as Iraqis struggle through some of the worst sectarian violence claiming the lives of many pilgrims.
They are mourning the death of Imam Hussein, killed during the seventh century battle of Kerbala, .
Tens of thousands of pilgrims from across Iraq, along with thousands of foreigners - mainly from Iran - streamed into the city, taking part in the Arbain pilgrimage that commemorates Imam Hussein's martyrdom.
But Shi'ite Muslims have become the main targets of a bombing campaign that began following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq last month.
Some 50,000 police officers and soldiers have been assigned to protect the pilgrims as they head to Imam Hussein's shrine for rituals that will reach a peak on Friday and Saturday.
(SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) HUSSEIN OMRAN AL-MOUSSAWI SHI'ITE PILGRIM FROM MAYSAN PROVINCE, SAYING:
"We don't think of death and we are not afraid of bombs because we are heading to the qibla of the free people, to Imam al-Hussein. We say to those who hate Shi'ites and to the terrorists that even if you use atomic bombs, TNT or napalm, you will not stop us coming to Imam al-Hussein."
Scores of people have been killed and more than 200 wounded in attacks on pilgrims in the past five days - with 44 killed in the worst attack, when a suicide bomber blew himself up at a checkpoint.
Since the 2003 toppling of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein - who had banned Shi'ite festivals - Arbain has frequently been targeted by militants.
Nick Rowlands, Reuters.