The kick off of the events of the International Cultural Festival of the Martyrdom's Spring..

On Monday evening 3 Shaa'ban 1435 AH corresponding to June 2, 2014 AD was launched the International Cultural Festival of the Martyrdom's Spring, which is hold under the slogan: (Imam Al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) The Light of the outstanding and the guidance of the righteous).

The opening ceremony was hosted at the courtyard of the holy shrine of Imam Al-Hussayn (peace be upon him) with the presence of representatives of the great religious authorities, the head of the Shiite Endowment, General Secretaries of holy shrines in Iraq, and a large number of religious, cultural and political figures from inside and outside Iraq, in addition to the delegations participating in this festival.

The opening ceremony that witnessed a huge media coverage started with reciting verses from the holy Quran by the International reader Sayed Hassanein AlHelo, followed by the word of general secretariats of the two holy shrines, delivered by the Secretary-General of the Al-Hussayn's (p) holy shrine Sheikh Abdul Mahdi Karbalai.

Followed by the word of the Shiite Endowment delivered by its President Sayed Saleh Al-Haidari, who welcomed the attendees in the courtyards of the holy shrines of Imam Al-Hussayn and Al-Abbas (peace be upon them) which are the source of lightening thought and guidance, in order to spread love, goodness and peace among human beings.

The Lebanese Christian poet Michel Juha presented a poem for this occasion followed by the word of the President of the Al-Kawthar University in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, Sheikh Mohsin Ali Najafi.

Then it was the turn of the speech of the African delegations presented on their behalf by the Ambassador of the Republic of Ghana, Mr. Mohamed Mohamed Gallo, who conveyed all the thanks and gratitude to the administration of the holy shrines for inviting him to participate in the commemoration of the birth of Imam Al-Hussayn (peace be upon him).

Then it was the role of the poet Ahmad Majid from Saudi Arabia who recited a poem for this occasion, followed by the word of the participating Balkan countries in this festival, which was delivered on their behalf by Mr. Alexander Drakovic, which was followed by the word of Asian delegations delivered on their behalf by Ahmad Narzed writer and researcher from The Philippines , followed by the word of the Professor Haider bash of Turkey, which was delivered on his behalf by Dr Mohammed Amin from the University of Istanbul.

The opening ceremony of the festival was concluded by honouring a number of figures from the holy city of Karbala who served the Husseini issue, namely : Sayed Kadhem Annaqeeb, Sheikh Muhammad Ali Da'i AlHaq and the historian Dr. Salman Hadi Aal Ta'mah.