THE HOLY CARPET

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16704, 23 July 1928, Page 10

THE HOLY CARPET

LEAVES FOE MECCA MADE IN INDIA FOE FIRST TIME BOMBAY, May 16. Amid scenes of Oriental fervour thousands of Bombay Mahbmmedans watched the departure of the steamer Englistan, which is taking to Jeddah (Arabia) the Holy Carpet (Kisweh). From Jeddah the Kiswoh-with the Mahmal, a beautiful palanquin containing copies of the Koran—will, be carried in the great pilgrimage to Mecca, where it will bo placed on the Ka'aba, Mahonmied's tomb. Never before have the 68,000,000 Mahonunedans of India boen permitted to prepare tho Holy Carpet, which until 1926 liad always been fashioned each year in Egypt by specially chosen girls of good family. Lust year the Carpet was not- taken to Mecca, and this year Ibn baud, Hie King of the lledjaz (who, as head of the. Wahuhis, is in .some respects a nonorthodqx, Mahommedun)j ordered that it' should bo ma.de in Delhi. This was done by artisans from Benares, India's sacred city, and in consequence of objection by a section of orthodox Mahommodans the proposed procession in Bombay was prohibited. In the steamer is a specially made and decorated marble room for the Carpet, which is guarded day and night by privileged pilgrims. The Carpet consists of 64 parts, each exquisitely embroidered with quotations from the Koran.