Arba’een or Chehelom or the fortieth day is a Shia Muslim religious observance that occurs40 days after the Day of Ashura. It commemorates the martyrdom of Hussein Ibn Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad which falls on the 20th day of the month of Safar. Husayn and 71 supporters martyred in the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (680 CE), killed by Yazid I's army.
Arba'een is also observed 40 days after the death of a family member or loved one. Forty days is the usual length of the time of mourning in many Islamic cultures. Arba'een, or Chehlom, is one of the largest pilgrimage gatherings on Earth, in which over 15 million people go to the city of Karbala in Iraq.
Theatrical Performance of this event.