Raising the Kiswa: An annual tradition marking the start of Haj

MAKKAH: The ceremonial lifting of the kiswa, the black cloth veiling the Kaaba in Makkah, took place on Wednesday, marking the start of preparations for the holy pilgrimage of Haj.

The annual ritual is overseen by the The General Authority for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques. It entails elevating the lower portion of the kiswa by three meters. To safeguard the exposed section, a white cotton fabric, measuring two meters in width and 54 meters in length on all four sides, is encased around it.

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A team comprising 36 specialised technical personnel and aided by 10 cranes carried out the procedure. The process included disengaging the bottom of the covering from all sides, separating the corners, unfastening the bottom rope, and rolling up the fabric.

Lanterns were subsequently disassembled, and the white fabric was positioned before the lanterns were reinstalled atop it. This methodical approach ensures the preservation of the kiswa from damage and contamination as pilgrims undertake their circumambulation of the Kaaba during the Haj.

Haj in Saudi Arabia is regarded as the largest human gathering worldwide. However, it has witnessed fluctuating participation figures over the years. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Saudi authorities restricted participation to a symbolic observance with a limited number of pilgrims.

However, as the pandemic subsided and world returned to normal activities, the numbers of pilgrims gradually increased as well. In 2023, nearly 1.84 million pilgrims embarked on the holy pilgrimage, with expectations high for increased participation this year.

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In addition to the ceremonial lifting of the kiswa, the authorities also conducted the replacement of the cover on the first of Muharram annually.