Every year, the Kiswah of the Kabah, which is a cloth covering the Kabah, is raised. This is done to protect the cloth from damage caused by the large crowds during the Hajj season when it is difficult to control the crowd.
Some people have superstitious beliefs and try to cut parts of the Kiswah for spiritual benefits or write their names or prayers on it. To symbolize the start of the Hajj season, a white cloth is placed around the Kabah. In the past, the Kiswah was raised in a way that revealed the white cloth underneath, but now a separate white cloth is used.
The Kiswah raising ceremony usually takes place around the 15th of Dhul Qadah, just before the influx of pilgrims becomes massive. However, this year, due to restrictions on the number of pilgrims, the crowd in the area will be smaller, making it easier to raise the Kiswah. It is now expected to be raised on the 20th of Dhul Qadah.
