Tuesday 03/February/2026 – 06:14 AM
Today, Tuesday, the people of the city of Al-Qusayr, south of the Red Sea Governorate, celebrate the night of the middle of Sha’ban with a special celebration, where camels carrying on their backs the howitzers, which are called bearings, circumambulate. For each bearing is written the name of a sheikh who has a shrine in the city, which includes dozens. Sheikhs.
The history of the passage of the Kaaba covering to the Holy Mosque in Mecca by sea
It is worth noting that these celebrations have been held since ancient times, and are linked to camels and howdahs, as in the past, the covering of the Kaaba was sent through the old port of Qusayr to the Mosque of Mecca by sea, and it reached Qusayr in howdahs carried on the backs of camels.
Camels laden with howdahs or bearings roam the old lanes and streets of the city, and the municipal flute band marches in front of them, and they stop in front of every house to congratulate it on the Eid. The organizer of this march is the sheikhs’ reciters from the various shrines in the city of Qusayr.
These mahmals attract the city’s residents of all ages, including children, youth, and women. They are accompanied by folklore bands, the municipal flute, and the Saidi dance with the tahtib, along with a procession of a number of camels. The mahmal procession continues until midnight, and one of the camels carries a howdah on it, and the people of Qusayr call it the mahmal.
