Are you planning a visit to the holy land of Karbala for Arbaeen with your family? Having embarked on this Journey with my family, including three young children under the age of 4, I’ve gained valuable insights that I wish I had known earlier. This blog post aims to guide you as you consider 犀利士
family-friendly Arbaeen groups (kafila) for you and your family on this Journey of a lifetime.
This post is all about finding a family-friendly Arbaeen group.
This post will be particularly useful if you’re still in the research phase and need to make bookings. However, even if you’ve already booked your group, I hope you’ll still find some helpful information here.
Questions to Ask Group Leaders Before Booking your Family-Friendly Arbaeen Group:
While many groups may claim they are family-friendly Arabeen groups, it’s essential to consider certain factors or inquire with the group leaders to ensure the best experience for your family. This is also true if you’re traveling with elderly individuals as well.
How far are the hotels from the shrines?
Firstly, consider the proximity of the hotels offered by each group to the shrines. While most groups will mention that their hotels are within walking distance, it’s crucial to know the actual distance. A 2-minute walk differs significantly from a 12-minute walk among millions of people. In crowded situations, the 12-minute walk can even double in time, so this information is essential. Ideally, ask for the hotel name so you can also look it up.
Will there be a working washroom on the travel bus?
Next, inquire about the availability of a washroom on the travel bus. Not all buses are equipped with toilets, and due to heavy Arbaeen traffic, some bus rides can last up to 8 hours without a break. If you or your child need to use the washroom during the Journey, it’s important to know if it is available on the bus. For families with young children who are already potty trained, bathroom breaks are not a choice but a necessity. If you or your child need to use the washroom during the bus ride, they will pull over the bus, and you may be out in the wild.
Are we expected to carry our hand luggage from the bus to the hotel?
Consider whether you’ll be expected to carry your hand luggage from the bus to the hotel or if there will be support available. Depending on the group, you may be required to pack clothing for at least two days in your hand luggage before reaching your first central hotel. However, due to the Arbaeen rush, buses aren’t able to park close to the hotel, which means you may have to walk a considerable distance while managing your hand luggage and potentially a stroller if you have young children, and the walk can be up to 1/2 a mile, if not more.
If your group doesn’t have a plan to support families in this situation, you can hire someone to help carry your luggage. It’s not a major issue, but coordinating such arrangements can be challenging, especially when unfamiliar with the local language.
Will food be provided on the travel bus?
Food provision during long bus rides is another important consideration. Even short 2-hour distances between Ziyarat locations can turn into 6 to 8 hours due to Arbaeen traffic. This means you’ll be spending a significant portion of your day on the bus. While some groups may ask you to bring snacks, it’s essential to know where they will be providing food. Well-prepared groups should provide food on the buses or, at the very least, inform you of approximate timings so you can pack snacks, especially for kids.
Which poles and/or mowkibs do you expect to rest at?
You’ll want to have a general idea as to which pole numbers or mowkibs your group is likely to stop at for rest. During the walk, each mowkib is segregated, with separate lodging facilities for men and women. As a husband and wife, you may have to stay in separate areas, and only one partner can stay with the kids, or you may have to divide the kids between the two.
Considering the walking schedule right now during Arbaeen, you’ll likely walk at night until an hour or so before Fajr, after which you’ll rest to sleep. However, by the time you arrive at a mowkib, many people may already be sleeping, and the atmosphere inside can be very quiet.
If you have a stroller with your belongings, you may need to park it outside in a corner, which can be challenging considering the items you bring along on this Journey.
If you want to stay together as a family (husband, wife, and kids), the only option is to sleep outside the mowkib, under the stars, rather than inside. Most mowkibs allow this, but it’s essential to arrive at a relatively decent time to secure a spot as they fill up quickly. Finding a suitable space for our family took us over two hours, and while sleeping outside the mowkib is a humbling and beautiful experience, it would have been better to know this in advance because we would have started settling down sooner.
Some groups try to arrange for families to sleep in the same mowkib, but unless there are other families in a similar situation, you’re likely to be on your own.
Do you have a detailed daily itinerary?
Inquire whether the group will provide an itinerary beforehand. There are numerous local ziarats and places to visit in Karbala and Najaf during Arbaeen, most of which are within walking distance but require some time to complete. While sleep schedules are unpredictable during this time, having an itinerary can help you plan better and discuss the day’s general plan of action with your family. Without an itinerary, relying solely on last-minute text messages can leave you feeling unprepared, especially with young children.
Can I cut my Journey short?
If you anticipate the need to cut your Journey short due to time constraints, it’s crucial to understand the logistics and costs involved. Leaving before the group departs requires coordination and additional expenses. During Arbaeen, when prices for everything triple, you’ll be expected to pay extra for the necessary coordination to get you from your last central hotel to the airport and that can easily rack up to +$600 US, if not more.
This may also involve passing through multiple checkpoints, changing vehicles, and paying per passenger at each handoff, unless your group has already organized this process. While some groups have arrangements in place for early departures, others may not, and it’s best to clarify this aspect beforehand.
What does this all mean?
Finding a family-friendly Arbaeen group that understands the dynamics of traveling with a family is helpful on this rewarding Journey to the holy lands of Najaf and Karbala during Arbaeen. The focus should be on immersing yourself in the spiritual and physical benefits of this unique experience rather than being consumed by logistical challenges, disorganization, and surprises. Fortunately, there are groups that cater specifically to families and can elevate your Journey.
Furthermore, in a recent poll amongst various social media groups, one group stood out as being consistently praised for its family-friendly approach – Spiritual Journey’s. They were commended for organizing events specifically for kids, ensuring a memorable experience for the entire family.
If you had a remarkable journey with a group that accommodated young children during Arbaeen, we would love to hear from you. Please share your experiences with us at hello@sabahscorner.com, so we can include them here for others to consider. Your insights can help families select the best group for their Arbaeen pilgrimage.
This post was all about finding the best family-friendly Arbaeen group.
