PHOTOS: Saudi Arabia lifts Kaaba’s ‘Kiswa’ in preparation for 2018 Hajj season

Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque lifted the Holy Kaaba’s Kiswa covering about three meters and covered the exposed section from all four sides with a white cotton cloth approximately two meters wide.

Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Mansouri, the director general of the King Abdul Aziz Complex for the Kaaba, said that the general presidency has been following the plan for this year’s 2018 Hajj season and carried out the usual routine of changing the Kaaba’s Kiswa. He added that a team of specialists and technicians are working with caution to assure the cleanliness and safety of the Kiswa.

Many pilgrims touch the Kiswa, and may pull it from the sides, which may damage it. Mansouri said that some pilgrims cut off parts of the Kiswa to get more ‘blessings’, which is a false belief.

Mansouri said that this is why the Kiswa is lifted three meters off the ground, and replaced with a white cloth, only for the Hajj season, to prevent damage.

Mansouri reassured that they are cautious when handling the Kiswa throughout the year, which is an extension of the great care given to the site of the Two Holy Mosques and the Kaaba.