Every year pilgrims flock into Karbala to mourn for Imam Hussein (AS), the grand of Prophet Mohammad (S), who was martyred in battle with Yazid's forces in AD 680.
Karbala provincial governor Akeel al-Khazali estimated on Sunday that more than 10 million people have already arrived in the city for the ceremony, AFP reported.
Thousands of Iranians have also arrived in the holy city.
Such rituals were not allowed under former leader Saddam Hussein.
The government has deployed 40,000 troops in Karbala to protect pilgrims from terror attacks. The tight security measure came as at least 46 people have been killed in four attacks since Wednesday.
PA/PA
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MNA