KARBALA, Iraq — Amir Faez al-Atbi, 20, from Babil province (100 kilometers, or 62 miles, south of Baghdad), gets ready each year to participate in the religious commemoration of Arbaeen, by offering his services to Shiite pilgrims from around the world heading to the holy city of Karbala. These Muslims travel dozens of kilometers on foot from different cities. Atbi lives in Babil, which represents an important intermediate station for the pilgrims coming from different Iraqi regions. He deals with hundreds of visitors who pass by the congregation halls and pavilions set up by the people of the provinces surrounding Babil.

Atbi wakes up in the early morning to serve tea to the travelers. He told Al-Monitor, “The vast majority of the city’s youth dedicate themselves this month every year to set up pavilions and congregation halls in order to provide accommodation, food and beverage and medical services for visitors.”

The pavilion provides a temporary residence and accommodation; it is designed to be installed very quickly, and at the end of the celebration it is dismantled and its parts are stored for the following year. Its appropriate surface allows pedestrians who have been walking dozens of kilometers toward the holy city of Karbala to have a meal and beverages and to receive necessary assistance.

Abu Ali, 86, is sleeping on a mattress on the ground alongside the pavilion where Atbi has volunteered. Abu Ali has traveled 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) to reach Karbala. He told Al-Monitor that he has been performing this annual religious pilgrimage for dozens of years.