Saudi officials raised Ka`bah kiswa (specially decorated garment), on Friday, July 19, as a precautionary measure to prevent people from damaging it during the pilgrimage season, Saudi Gazette reported.
The Kiswa was lifted three meters off the ground and replaced with a white cloth, only for the Hajj season, to prevent damage.
In the previous years, the Kiswa was normally raised on the first day of Dhul Hijjah as an announcement of the advent of the rite and an indication of the beginning of the holy days.
Deputy President for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques and Director General of King Abdulaziz Complex for the kiswa of the Holy Ka’ba Ahmed Bin Muhammad Al-Mansouri said that as is customary every year and in line with the approved plan for this year’s Haj season, the presidency has raised the kiswa of the Holy Ka’ba.
Al-Masouri stressed that some pilgrims’ attitude of cutting some parts of the kiswa or seeking blessings from it is based on wrong beliefs.
The task was carried out by a team of 50 specialists and technicians.
Hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform Hajj at least once in a lifetime.
Hajj 2019 will commence on Friday, 9th of August 2019 and will continue till Wednesday, 14th of August 2019; in the evening time.