By Mohammad Almezel, Bureau Chief
Manama: Bahrain has broken a new record for the world's largest candle during the Ashura procession on Friday night.
The 73-metre candle was made by the Hussaini Painting Society to stress Islam's message of peace, according to society officials.
Thousands of people, including officials from The Guinness Book of Records, witnessed the lighting up of the horizontally-laid 3,000-kilogram candle.
The public took turns to light up the candle's 14,000 wicks.
"The project is aimed to send a message of peace to the whole world, stressing that Islam is not a religion of violence. It is a religion of peace, tolerance and fraternity," society president Abdul Nabi Al Hamer told Gulf News.
"It is the key message of Imam Hussain's campaign against oppression," he said.
"The message of Hussain should be expanded. It is a universal message which says 'No' to oppression and injustice," said Al Hamer as he watched young boys and girls taking part in lighting up the wicks.
The project cost the society less than $1,000 (Dh3,680) as most of the candles have been contributed by the public, he said.
Bahrainis traditionally light candles on the eve of Ashura.
This year's Ashura processions were held under tight security.
