The late founder of the Islamic Republic had a great devotion and deep love for Imam Hossein (peace be upon him) and for his companions and their sacrifices in Karbala for Divine sake.
Imam Khomeini always kept soil of Karbala (Turba) and prostrate on it during the prayers, which is recommended through various traditions narrated by the infallible Imams and the truthful sucessors of Imam.
During the struggle for the Islamic Revolution, Imam stressed time and again that the Islamic revolution had been inspired by the movement of Ashura.
Extracted from a collection of memoirs about Imam Khomeini