Workers wearing protective face masks work on raising the Kiswa, a silk cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, before the annual pilgrimage season, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 22, 2020.
Mecca: The General Presidency for the affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque said the Kiswah of the holy Ka'aba (the black cloth with golden embroidery covering the Kaaba) would be replaced next Saturday to keep the blessed tradition going, adding that 166 craftsmen would perform the replacement.
Deputy Head of the affairs of the Grand Mosque Dr. Saad bin Mohammad Al-Mohaimeed said the old kiswah (covering of the Ka'aba) will be removed to make way for the new one which comprises four sides and a curtain for the door.
The Kiswah is made up of 670 kg of pure silk which is dyed black and has 120 kg of gold threads and 100 kg of silver.
It is also decorated with Quranic verses and other sanctified phrases that are embroidered onto the cloth with gold-plated thread.
