Every year, the Holy Kaaba in Mecca receives a new Kiswa, the iconic black cloth that drapes one of Islam's most sacred sites. This year, Saudi Arabia has completed that ceremonial replacement, a tradition that blends deep spiritual meaning with remarkable craftsmanship.
The materials that go into each Kiswa tell you just how serious this undertaking is. A single covering requires 825 kilogrammes of natural silk, 47 rolls of black silk for the outer layer, and 400 kilogrammes of raw cotton used to line the inside.
The scale and precision involved in producing the Kiswa make it one of the most unique textile projects anywhere in the world. What does the finished cloth look like up close? That is a question worth sitting with the next time you see images of the Kaaba during Hajj season.
Originally published by Premium Times.