Religious tours to Iran-Iraq to resume, some pilgrims to stay back due to fragile ceasefire
After days of uncertainty, tour operators in Mumbai will begin religious trips to Iran and Iraq for Muharram, with the US announcing a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
Around 3,000 Shia pilgrims from India had almost given up hopes of being able to go to Iran-Iraq for Muharram this year, due to the closure of airspace amid the Israel-Iran war.
As the airlines have resumed operations with the ceasefire in place, these pilgrims have decided to go ahead with their plans.
However, some pilgrims have decided to stay back, fearing that the fragile ceasefire may not hold up.
Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar that begins on June 27.
The Prophet's grandson and his family were killed on 10th day of Muharram, known as Ashura, at Karbala in Iraq.
The owner of a major Mumbai-based tour operator said, 'One of the main airlines had earlier stopped operations between India and Iraq as the Indian government had issued an advisory.
However, now with the ceasefire in place, the airline has resumed operations and the tour will leave from June 28 onwards.'
Tanveer Gabharani, from Aal-e-Imran pilgrimage tours, said that they will begin operations from June 28 when the Iraqi Airways flights resume operations on the India-Iraq route.
However, he said, some pilgrims are hesitant and have cancelled their tickets.
'While initially there were 40 people who were to go on the tour, 15 pilgrims have backed out as they are still scared and fear the ceasefire may not hold,' he said.
Another tour operator said that some of the pilgrims have also delayed their visit from Ashura to Arbaeen, which is 40 days later.
'A lot of pilgrims who had earlier booked air tickets for Ashura are now considering going later on Arbaeen that is 40 days later,' the tour operator said.
A pilgrim who had initially booked four tickets for his family said, 'We have decided to not go ahead even though our tour operator contacted us saying the tour was back on track. I only got a few days' leave from work and the dates for my daughter's college admission are just a few days ahead of the tour dates. With the fragile ceasefire, we do not want to take a chance. We may go later.'
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