TEHRAN, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- Millions of Iranian Shiite Muslims held mourning ceremonies of Ashura Day nationwide on Thursday.
In the capital Tehran, mourners marched in the streets, chanting religious anthems. Some others stood by the sides of the streets, distributing food, sweets and drinks to the crowd.
Similar ceremonies were held in other Iranian cities and villages where people stopped business and economic activities.
They participate in public processions for ceremonial chest beating as a display of their devotion to Imam Hussein.
Ashura takes place on the 10th day of Muharam, the first month in the Islamic lunar calendar. Shiit muslims commemorate the death of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Mohammed, who was killed and buried in Karbala in 680 A.D.
Mourners from Iran and some other countries generally clad in black, and took to the streets or gathered in mosques to commemorate the day.
