New Kiswa installed at Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram

MAKKAH: The new Kiswa was installed early Sunday at the Kaaba in Masjid al-Haram by a team of 159 skilled craftsmen, engineers, and technicians.

The annual tradition of replacing the Kiswa began on the first day of the Islamic new year (1 Muharram, 1446 Hijri) this Saturday.

The Kiswa is the revered cloth that covers the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is draped on the Kaaba annually, with a procession accompanying it to Makkah since the 12th century. The event holds significant religious importance for Muslims around the globe.

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The event was overseen by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. It is an extremely important event in the Islamic calendar and entails meticulous preparations.

The process started with taking off the old Kiswa, which had detailed gold embroidery. Meanwhile, the new one was moved from the complex to the Grand Mosque.

Reports state that the Kiswa comprises 53 pieces embroidered with gold, spread across different parts of the Kaaba. These pieces cover areas like the belt, corners, lanterns, and landmarks such as the Black Stone outline.

The Kiswa was made carefully by hand, with each embroidery piece taking 60 to 120 days to finish. This year, it used a lot of valuable materials: 120 kilograms of gold, 100 kilograms of silver, and about 1,000 kilograms of silk.

Altogether, the Kiswa now weighs 1,350 kilograms and stands 14 meters tall.

On the outside, the Kiswa features inscriptions woven with black threads. Installing it requireD lifting each of the Kaaba’s four sides separately for precise fitting and alignment. Each corners of the Kiswa was carefully sewn, and the curtain was delicately placed.

Traditionally, the lower part of the Kiswa was lifted approximately three weeks before Haj to protect it during tawaf. Recently, the General Presidency decided to change this tradition. Now, the replacement ceremony aligns with the start of the Islamic year, following a directive from royal authorities.

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Traditionally, the lower part of the Kiswa was lifted approximately three weeks before Haj to protect it during tawaf. Recently, the General Presidency decided to change this tradition. Now, the replacement ceremony aligns with the start of the Islamic year, following a directive from royal authorities.

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