Arbaeen Walk and Socio-economic Expressions: Perceptions and Understanding of the Pakistani Shias regarding the Congregation on 20th Safar

Abstract

Every year millions of people from all over the world walk for several days towards the Karbala, Iraq. Walking on foot towards the shrine of Imam Hussain (A.S) is a vibrant feature of the Arbaeen pilgrimage. Though, it was banned during the Saddam Hussain’s era. However, following the collapse of his regime in 2003, it once again revived with great enthusiasm. This research intends to explore the historical basis of the Arbaeen walk. The research asks certain questions such as: What are the perceptions of natives regarding the prevalence of Arbaeen walk among Pakistani Shias? What challenges do pilgrims face during the Arbaeen pilgrimage? What are the socio-economic expressions evident in interactions among participants in the Arbaeen walk? Ethnographic research methodology was used to conduct this research. Participant observation was done during the data collection. The purposive sampling technique was utilized for the selection of sample. The total sample size was 41. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore the phenomenon in detail. In-depth interviews were taken from both males and females of different age groups, belonging to various socio-economic statuses and educational background. For this purpose, an interview guide was constructed to ensure that all areas are covered during the interviews. Findings proposed that every year millions of people walk towards the shrine of Imam Hussain (A.S), including the large number of Shia population of Dhoke Syedan Rawalpindi, Pakistan. It further suggested that the phenomenon of Arbaeen walk does not only possess spiritual significance, rather the city of Karbala also holds economic enterprises.