Kiswa of Holy Kaaba replaced to mark the beginning of Hijri New Year

Gulf Today Report

The Kiswa of Holy Kaaba was replaced to mark the commencement of new Islamic year 1447. The Kiswa refers to the black silk embroidered cloth that covers the Holy Kaaba.

The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has completed the annual replacement of the Kiswa of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah on Thursday, continuing a tradition of care that spans over 100 years.

The process began with the removal of the gilded curtain from the Kaaba’s door, measuring 6.35 metres by 3.33 metres.

A specialised team of 154 Saudi professionals from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa carried out the replacement process.

The team was strategically assigned to various sides and the roof of the Kaaba based on their areas of expertise.

Muslims take photos with their smart phones as workers change the Kiswa. Reuters

The process began with dismantling the old Kiswa and installing the new one, which was then secured at the corners and across the roof of the Holy Kaaba.

The new Kiswa features 47 expertly embroidered black silk panels, embellished with 68 Quranic verses intricately stitched using gold-plated silver threads.

The new Kiswa weighs approximately 1,415 kilogrammes and stands 14 metres high. It consists of four separate panels along with the door curtain (sitara).

Workers change the cover of Kaaba known as Kiswa. Reuters

Each panel was individually raised and aligned over the previous one, with the new Kiswa being gradually lowered as the old one was removed.

This process was repeated for all four sides. Once in place, the decorative band (hizam) was aligned and stitched along a straight line around the Kaaba.

Next, the corners were sewn vertically from top to bottom to ensure a seamless and secure finish.

The sitara, which requires precision and considerable time, was then installed. A cut was made in the black silk fabric to fit the curtain — measuring 3.30 metres wide and 6.35 metres long — and three openings were created beneath the fabric to insert the curtain.

It was then sewn into the Kiswa from both the inside and outside to ensure proper placement.

The making of the Kiswa consumed approximately 825 kilogrammes of raw silk, dyed black at the complex, 120 kilogrammes of gold-plated silver thread, 60 kilogrammes of pure silver thread, and 410 kilogrammes of raw cotton.

Workers bring in a new cover of Kaaba, known as Kiswa in the Grand Mosque in the Holy City of Makkah. Reuters