RIYADH: In a change from custom, the brand new protecting of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah was put in on Saturday morning on the daybreak of the brand new Islamic yr 1444.
The Kiswa was once changed yearly throughout the Hajj, significantly on the morning of Dhul Hijjah 9, after the pilgrims go to Mount Arafat in preparation for welcoming the trustworthy the next morning, which coincides with Eid Al-Adha.
Final month, Saudi Arabia’s Normal Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques introduced the change in custom in order that the annual occasion will happen on the eve of Muharram 1, the primary day of the Hijri calendar.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, chairman of the presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, stated the change was made based mostly on a royal determination.
Based on the Saudi Press Company, the change of the Kiswa on Saturday morning was carried out by a staff of 200 Saudi technicians from the King Abdulaziz Advanced for the manufacture of the Kiswa of the Kaaba, beneath the supervision of Sheikh Sudais.
Describing the method, the SPA reported: “The brand new kiswa consisted of 4 separate sides and the door curtain was put in. Every of the 4 sides of the Kaaba was raised individually to the highest of the Kaaba in preparation for its unfolding on the outdated facet. , and the higher facet fastening by tying it and reducing the opposite finish of the facet, after the ropes of the outdated facet have been loosened.
“By shifting the brand new facet up and down in a steady movement, then the outdated facet fell from the underside and the brand new facet remained, and the method was repeated 4 occasions for either side till the gown was accomplished, then the strap of been weighed in a straight line on all 4 sides by means of the seam.
“This course of began from the facet of the hem first, as a result of presence of the gutter which has its personal gap on the high of the garment, and after all of the components have been hooked up, the corners have been secured by stitching them from the highest of the garment. coat all the way in which down”.
Technicians on the King Abdulaziz Advanced do the weaving, stitching and printing by hand and machines utilizing 47 items of material and thread to make the Kiswa. The world’s largest computerized stitching machine, 16 meters lengthy, carries out the method.
The material is sewn collectively in 5 completely different components and stuck to the bottom with copper rings. About 670 kilograms of uncooked silk are dyed black on the complicated.
Kiswa is embellished with Quranic verses embroidered on the material with 120 kilograms of 21 karat gold thread and 100 kilograms of silver thread.
The price of making a brand new 850-kilogram Kiswa is estimated at SR 25 million, or over $6.5 million, making it the costliest cowl on the earth.
