Saudi craftsmen weave Kiswah live at exhibition
abu dhabi — Craftsmen from Saudi Arabia’s King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswah performed a live display of the decoration of the silk covering of the Holy Kaaba, the Kiswah, which will be used during the next Haj season.
The special demonstration was held during The Haj: Memories of a Journey exhibition at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Centre (SZGMC), and was part of a series of workshops to demonstrate the live embroidery of the Kiswah.
Held under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, the exhibition which will run until March 19, 2018, is being organised by the SZGMC, in collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Culture and Tourism.
The special presentation by skilled craftsmen demonstrated the embroidery of the Kiswah, using original silk pieces of cladding. This ornate protective covering is replaced on the eve of the day of ‘Arafah’ each year, corresponding to the 9th of Dhul Hijjah every year.
The cloth used by the Kiswah craftsmen included pieces of silk in black, a colour most commonly associated with the Kaaba, inscribed with Quranic verses embroidered with silver and gold threads.
The cloth was further decorated with 21 interlaced patterns on all four sides and adorned with religious invocations and praises to Allah, the Almighty God, across the top, as well as additional inscriptions and decorations that cover the cladding from all sides.
The craftsmen presented a live presentation to visitors to the exhibition, demonstrating how to sew and embellish the patterns and decorations that characterise the actual material from which the Kiswah is made and the embroidery that is used on it.
Zamzam water bottles were also distributed to visitors, along with souvenirs, prints and books on the history of The King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswah.
The complex is not only solely dedicated to overseeing the weaving of the Kiswah, but also takes care of the Kaaba around the clock through a specially deployed unit of tailors inside the Grand Mosque. The complex also produces official flags and government logos for participation in events inside and outside Saudi Arabia.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com