Shias Religious Pilgrimage

KARBALA, IRAQ - APRIL 21: Thousands of Muslim Shias gather together in front of the Abbas Mosque during the annual pilgrimage, which had been banned by Saddam Hussein for the last twenty-five years, in the holy city of Karbala to pray at the holy shrines of Abbas and Hussein April 21, 2003 in Karbala, Iraq. The city of Karbala, 80 km southwest of Baghdad, was strongly influenced by the Persians, replaced Isfahan as the main center of Shia scholarship and mantained strong links with Iran. The Kammuna family, related to the Shahs, were custodians of the shrines and practically ran the city until the time of the British mandate. The control of Karbala passed to seven mukhtars who received their salary from the municipality until they were succeeded by Iraqi government employees. The piety and unshakeable belief of the Muslims who visit the sanctuaries are illustrated by heart-rending acts of devotion such as kissing the grails that surround the shrines. (Photo by Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)