Holy Kaaba Receives New Kiswah as Islamic Year 1448 AH Begins

MAKKAH: Saudi Arabia marked the beginning of Islamic New Year 1448 AH with the annual replacement of the Kiswah, the black silk covering of the Holy Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram.The sacred ceremony, carried out by specialised teams, saw the old Kiswah replaced with a newly crafted cloth embroidered with Quranic verses in gold and silver threads.Thousands of pilgrims witnessed the historic event in Makkah, while millions around the world followed the ceremony online. The annual tradition symbolises the arrival of the new Hijri year and reflects the spiritual significance of the Holy Kaaba for Muslims worldwide.