New Delhi

The cost of making the kiswa, black silk covering of the Kaaba, the holiest of the places for Muslims around the world, is about SAR (Saudi Riyal) 17,000,000 (4,500,000 USD) that is around Rs 33.4 crore!

The Kiswa is 658 square meter and is made of 670 kg of raw silk dyed in black. The embroidery contains 120 kilograms of gold thread and 100 kilograms of silver thread. Quranic verses are sewn onto the black cloth with gold-plated threads.

This year the Mecca authorities have ritualistically lifted the lower part of the  Kiswa over Kaaba as the Muslim world marks the new Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

According to Al Arabiya portal, The process of lifting the lower part of the kiswa covering was done during the first minutes of the Dhu al-Hajjah month marked on Wednesday. The process is usually done days ahead of the Hajj before pilgrims make their way to the Holy sites to begin their pilgrimage.

More than fifty men from the King Abdul Aziz Complex for the Kaaba were accompanied by the General President for the Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, on Wednesday to change the lower part of the covering of the Kaaba.

Muslims touching Kaaba to show their devotion to Allah

Every year, the gatekeepers of the Kaaba carry a delicate and precise task to change the silky black cloth embroidered with gold draped that makes up the Kiswa over the holy structure.

The process of changing the Kiswa will take place on the second day of Hajj under the supervision of the President of the Holy Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais.

This year Saudi Arabia will allow limited Hajj pilgrimage due to the continued risk of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

The kiswa is one of the most important ornaments in the House of God, and its production is made by some of the greatest calligraphers and artists in the Muslim world.

The process of raising the cover of the Kaaba twice a year has been going on for years and has become a part of the tradition.