MAKKAH: In preparation for Hajj 2024, the authorities in Makkah, Saudi Arabia have raised the Kiswa (Cover of Kaaba or Ghilaf-e-Kaaba) on Thursday. It marks the beginning of Hajj process in Saudi Arabia.
The Kiswa, the cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba, was elevated by three meters, and the lower part was covered with a two-meter-wide white cotton cloth (Ihram) on all four sides. This annual practice is designed to help prevent damage to the Kaaba before the Hajj.
A team of specialists from the King Abdul Aziz Complex, responsible for maintaining the Kaaba, conducted the ceremony.
Traditionally, the process of changing the Kiswa takes place on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah, the final month of the Islamic calendar. However, in 2022, it was moved to the first day of Muharram.
The Kiswa, which is black, consists of 670 kilograms of raw silk with verses from the Quran woven in gold-plated thread. The verses are created using 120kg of gold and 100kg of silver threads. The belt of the Kiswa is composed of six pieces.
Meanwhile, the arrival of Pakistani pilgrims in Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2024 is ongoing.
According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, 31,057 pilgrims have, so far, arrived in Madinah Munawwarah through 126 flights under the government scheme.
In addition, more than 2,000 pilgrims have reached Makkah Mukarramah under the private Hajj 2024 scheme.
Upon arrival at the airport, passengers were transported to residential buildings in Markazia, just a 15-20 minute walk from Masjid-e-Nabvi and Roza-e-Rasool (SAW), via luxurious buses.
Direct flights from Pakistan to Jeddah will commence on May 24.
Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage and one of the five pillars of Islam. Each year, millions of Muslims worldwide travel to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform Hajj.
Hajj takes place in the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. It begins on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and lasts approximately five to six days, depending on the sighting of the moon.
The new crescent moon marks the beginning of the four-day festival of Eidul Adha, which Muslims around the world celebrate.
