Ghilaf-e-Kaaba changing ceremony held today
The new cover has been prepared with estimated 150 kg pure gold and 670 kg silk fiber.
MAKKAH (Web Desk) - The annual ceremony to change Ghilaf-e-Kaaba was held on Wednesday morning at Masjid al-Haram in Saudi Arabia where millions of Muslims have gathered to perform Hajj.
The covering cloth of the Kaaba, known as Kiswa, is changed on 9th Zilhaj every year on the day of Arafat.
The new cover has been prepared with estimated 150 kg pure gold and 670 kg silk fiber.
The cover, inscribed with verses from the Holy Quran, is prepared by over 200 weaving experts in Dar-ul-Kiswa factory with the cost of 20.70 million Saudi riyals.
HAJJ RITUALS
More than 2.5 million faithful from around the globe are performing Hajj. This year s gathering is about the same size as last year s, with 1.4 million foreign pilgrims joining hundreds of thousands of Saudis and residents of the kingdom.
They will leave for Waqoof-e-Arafat today which is the Rukan-e-Azam of Hajj. The pilgrims including 143, 368 Pakistanis spent Tuesday night at Mina under the open sky before moving early Wednesday to the rocky hill where they believe the Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) gave his final sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the Hajj.
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The pilgrims listened to the Hajj sermon delivered by the grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia at Masjid-e-Nimra.
After sunset, the pilgrims will leave for Muzdalifah located half-way between Arafat and Mina, where they will stay for a night and offer prayers.
About one hundred thousand police have been deployed to secure pilgrimage sites.
Hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform it at least once in a lifetime.
