RIYADH: Saudi Arabia marked the beginning of the new Islamic year with the replacement of the Holy Kaaba’s Kiswa, the black silk covering that adorns Islam’s holiest site, during a spiritually significant ceremony at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
The annual Kiswa replacement ceremony was held at Masjid al-Haram, where the new covering was carefully installed on the Holy Kaaba in the presence of officials and workers responsible for the sacred task.
The event indicates a longstanding Islamic tradition and symbolizes reverence for the holiest sanctuary in Islam.
The new Kiswa was transported from the King Abdulaziz Complex for the Holy Kaaba Kiswa, commonly known as the Kiswa Factory, to the Grand Mosque ahead of the replacement process.
In this regard, a team of approximately 250 specialists from the factory, along with personnel from the General Authority for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, participated in the operation.
The replacement process was completed in around four hours. The process required extensive coordination and expertise due to the significance and delicate nature of the task.
The Kiswa is made from high-quality black silk and is embroidered with verses from the Holy Quran using gold- and silver-plated threads. It is regarded as one of the most prominent symbols associated with the Holy Kaaba and attracts the admiration of millions of Muslims around the world.
Since 2022, Saudi Arabia has been conducting the annual Kiswa replacement ceremony on the first day of the Islamic New Year. Prior to this change, the Kiswa was traditionally replaced each year on the morning of 9 Dhul-Hijjah, when pilgrims departed for the plains of Arafat to perform one of the most important rituals of Hajj.
The continuation of this sacred tradition underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving Islam’s holy sites and preserving the spiritual significance of the Holy Kaaba for Muslims across the globe.
