Egyptian family keeps tradition behind Hajj centrepiece alive - in pictures

Creators of the Kaaba's covering continue to use traditional techniques

Egyptian embroiderer Ahmed Othman el-Kassabgy (R), whose family was traditionally responsible for used to be honoured with the task of producing the Kiswa, the cloth used to cover the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, supervises as another employee (L) sews with gold thread a verse from the Holy Koran, Islam's holy book, onto a replica drape to be sold as a souvenir for tourists visiting the historic district of al-Hussein of Islamic Cairo in Egypt's capital on June 15, 2022. - From the 13th century, Egyptian artisans made the giant cloth in sections, which authorities transported to Mecca with great ceremony. Celebrations would mark processions through cities, flanked by guards and clergymen as Egyptians sprinkled rosewater from balconies above. From 1927, manufacturing began to move to Mecca in the nascent Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which would fully take over production of the kiswa in 1962. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

His family's creations would be sent aboard a camel caravan to Islam's holiest site in western Saudi Arabia, towards which Muslims across the world turn to pray.

Now the family sews verses from the Quran on replicas of the kiswa that they sell as souvenirs to tourists visiting the historic district of Al Hussein in Cairo.

From the 13th century, Egyptian artisans made the giant cloth in sections, which authorities transported to Makkah.

Celebrations would mark the processions through cities, flanked by guards and clerics as Egyptians sprinkled rosewater from balconies above.

Mr El Kassabgy said 10 craftsmen would work on the kiswa for an entire year.

His grandfather, Othman Abdelhamid, was the last to supervise a fully Egyptian-made kiswa in 1926.

From 1927, manufacturing began to move to Makkah in Saudi Arabia, which would fully take over production of the kiswa in 1962.

Despite this, Mr El Kassabgy says he has stayed loyal to techniques learnt as a child. 'It is on us to uphold the craft the same way we learnt it, so it is authentic to the legacy we inherited,' he says.

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