As the holy month of Ramadan begins, worshippers pray around the Kaaba, the holiest shrine in the Grand mosque complex in the Saudi city of Mecca during the holy fasting month.
This year the turnout at the holy shrine is dependent on certain conditions viz. those who have received two doses of coronavirus vaccine, those administered a single dose at least 14 days prior, and people who have recovered from the infection. The worshipers, however, have to perform the ritual of circling the sacred Kaaba in batches.
While these rituals are being performed at the Kaba, another ritual has been making the rounds –the perfuming of Kaaba and Grand Mosque 10 times a day during the holy month.
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is carrying out operations to perfume the Holy Kaaba and the Grand Mosque 10 times a day, using the finest and superior quality of perfumes and incenses. To perfume, the workers undertake 10 times a day in three shifts and polishing them once during daytime as well as once during the night-time.
The fragrance is applied to the Kaaba and is used in the mosque more regularly during special occasions such as the holy month of Ramadan, days of Hajj and on Fridays and so the premises has been luring with fragrance.
As many as 40 cleaning workers, five polish workers, and nine supervisors are engaged in the work of fumigating the shrine. Under the supervision of the presidency’s unit for perfume and incense at the Grand Mosque, one round of the works is completed within 20 minutes.
The Kaaba and Grand Mosque are fragranced with the finest types of Oud such as Oud Sioufi, Clementan incense, and Maruki Double Super incenses. It also fumigates the Grand Mosque with more than 60 incense burners and 60 kilograms of oud daily.
The authorities undertaking the task to perfume and incense the Grand Mosque are keen to take great care of cleansing and perfuming the Grand Mosque and the Holy Kaaba without causing any inconvenience to Umrah pilgrims, worshipers and visitors to Islam’s holiest shrine. These practices enable them to perform their rituals with ease and comfort by smelling the fragrance of the quality perfumes.
Image: Shutterstock
