Saudi officials raised Kaa`bah kiswah (specially decorated garment), on Sunday, June 19, as a precautionary measure to prevent people from damaging it during the pilgrimage season.
The Kiswah was lifted three meters off the ground and replaced with a white cloth, only for the Hajj season, to prevent damage, The National News reported.
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In the previous years, the Kiswah 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.
The ‘Kiswah’ is woven from pure silk and embellished by gold-plated thread illustrating verses from the Qur’an. It is classified as a work of Islamic art produced by top-skilled craftsmen.
Hajj consists of several ceremonies, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith. These rituals 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.
According to astronomical calculations, hajj 2022 will commence on Friday, July 8, and will continue till Tuesday, July 12, 2022.
This is the tentative date as the actual date is contingent on Dhul-Hijjah moon sighting on June 29.