New marks to help pilgrims performing Tawaf around Kaaba

Makkah — For the first time, the covering cloth of the holy Kaaba, also known as Kiswa, will have a new addition to indicate the starting and ending points of circumambulation — or Tawaf — around the sacred structure. This will help pilgrims count the number of Tawaf they have performed. The gilded four lantern shaped patches with Allah-u-Akbar (Allah is greatest) sewn in its center, were placed above the Black Stone. This new addition is the fourth directional signage that has been assembled recently to guide the pilgrims to where circumambulation starts and ends in a bid to prevent any confusion. Prior to this change, there used to be a brown line adjacent to the Black Stone, which was removed as it was causing congestion.