JEDDAH: Preparations for the annual washing of the Kaaba began on Tuesday with the raising of the curtain covering its door, the first stage of the ceremony.
The annual ritual is held on the date corresponding to the 15th of Muharram, 1448 A.H., and is one of the oldest traditions associated with Islam’s holiest site, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque said the ceremony reflected the Kingdom’s long-standing commitment to caring for the Kaaba, a tradition that dates back to the reign of King Abdulaziz and continues under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
On behalf of King Salman, Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, the deputy governor of Makkah Region, led the ceremonial washing.
Prince Saud washed the interior walls of the Kaaba using Zamzam water mixed with rose water and a premium oud mixture.
The Kaaba’s cloths are also soaked in the mixture, while the three pillars and the flooring inside are also washed. The surfaces at the site in the Grand Mosque are then dried before the interior walls are perfumed, completing the annual cleansing ceremony.
The annual ritual was attended by several officials, members of the Islamic diplomatic corps accredited to the Kingdom, and custodians of the Kaaba.
The authority said it mobilized its technical, service and engineering teams to support the ceremony and complete the necessary preparations.
The annual washing shows the respect Muslims have for the Kaaba and reflects the Kingdom’s continuous care for the most sacred site in Islam.
