Muharram preps subdued in Baghdad district

The streets of Baghdad's Kadhimiya district show little signs of preparations for the start of Muharram, the first month in the Islamic calendar.

Friday marks the first day of Muharram and the start of the Islamic New Year, which is based on lunar cycles.

Typically, thousands of people would march toward the holy shrine of Imam Musa al-Kadhim in the Kadhimiya district.

But this year is different, as there are fewer people on the streets and near the shrine due to the coronavirus.

Many cannot travel to Baghdad to visit the shrine because of a virus-related travel ban.

Some are also worried they could contract the virus from crowded places.

Later in the month of Muharram Shiite Muslims celebrate the historic battle of Karbala, when the grandson of Prophet Mohammad was killed during a siege in Karbala city, 100 kilometres (62 miles) south of Baghdad.

The event contributed massively to the schism that led to the split between the Sunni and Shiite sects of Islam.

The religious commemoration is known as the Ashura and is marked on the 10th of the month.