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Last Updated: Tuesday, 30 January 2007, 11:22 GMT
In pictures: Ashura festival

Hundreds of thousands of Shia pilgrims pray outside Imam Hussein's shrine in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq.

Shia Muslims across the world have been marking Ashura, the most sacred ceremony on their religious calendar.

Iraqi Shia Muslims celebrate the day of Ashura in Karbala

Ashura marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, a grandson of Prophet Muhammad, in 680 AD.

Iraqi Shia boys hold burning candles during Ashura in Karbala

About one million pilgrims have flocked to Iraq's holy city of Karbala to pay homage at the tomb of Imam Hussein.

Bangladeshi Shia Muslims flail themselves in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Some Shia beat themselves with chains and blades to emulate Hussein's suffering - though this is frowned upon by others.

An Iraqi Shia rides a horse as part of a religious parade in the holy city of Karbala, Iraq

Others re-enact the death of Hussein who was killed in a battle near Karbala.

Pakistani Shia Muslims kiss a symbolic flag known as Alm

Ashura falls on the 10th of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is marked annually by a 10-day mourning period.






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