RIYADH: Setting a new tradition, the new cover of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah was installed today with the dawn of the new Islamic year of 1444.
Earlier, the Kiswa was replaced once a year during Hajj, specifically on the morning of Dhul Hijjah 9 after the pilgrims go to Mount Arafat. This was done for receiving worshipers the next morning, which coincides with Eid Al-Adha.
In June this year, Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais announced the change in tradition so that the annual event would be held on the eve of Muharram 1, the first day in the Hijri calendar.
President of the Two Holy Mosques said the change was being made based on a royal decision.
The changing of the Kiswa today morning was carried out by a team of 200 Saudi technicians from the King Abdulaziz Complex for Manufacturing the Kaaba’s Kiswa, under the supervision of Sheikh Sudais.
Describing the process, the SPA reported: “The new kiswa consisted of four separate sides and the door curtain was installed. Each of the four sides of the Kaaba was raised separately to the top of the Kaaba in preparation for its unfolding on the old side, and fixing the side from above by tying it down and dropping the other end of the side, after the ropes of the old side were loosened.
“By moving the new side up and down in a permanent movement, then the old side fell from below and the new side remained, and the process was repeated four times for each side until the dress was completed, then the belt was weighed in a straight line to the four sides by stitching it.
