A new covering, known as the Kiswa, was installed on the Holy Kaaba in Makkah on Sunday, marking the first day of the Islamic new year, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported, citing the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque oversaw the installation, which was carried out by a team from the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Kiswa of the Holy Kaaba.
The team comprised 159 craftsmen, supervised by engineers and technicians. The process involved removing the old Kiswa’s gold-embroidered pieces while bringing in the new covering.
New Holy Kaaba covering installed in Makkah
According to report, the Kiswa consists of 53 gold-embroidered pieces, including sections for the belt area, corners, lanterns, door curtain, Al-Rukn Al-Yamani, and the Black Stone outline.
The installation requires up to 200 technicians and craftsmen to complete within hours. The complex’s staff produces 56 gold-embroidered pieces, with each piece taking between 60 and 120 days to complete by hand.
“A total of 120 kilogrammes of gold, 100 kilogrammes of silver and 1,000 kilogrammes of silk are used in the production of the Kiswa. As one piece, the Kiswa weighs 1,350 kilogrammes and measures 14 metres high, and consists of four separate sides and a door curtain, according to the complex in charge of Kiswa production,” the report said, adding the covering is adorned from the outside with inscriptions woven with black threads.
The annual changing of the Kiswa coincides with the start of the Islamic New Year, which fell on 1 Muharram, 1446 AH this year.
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