Traditionally, the Ka'ba is covered by a dark, elaborately decorated kiswa (cover), a tradition that was started by a king of Himyar in Southern Arabia two centuries before the hegira. Initially, the kiswa was donated by the Prophet Muhammad and the caliphs; later it was Egypt that dispatched the kiswa every year, decorated with gold-thread panels containing Qur'anic phrases and prayers referring to the Hajj and its importance. Sent at the same time were an elaborate pair of curtains to cover the doors of the Ka'ba, and a pouch containing the key to the Ka'ba made from silver-inlaid brass and enhanced with religious quotes. The sending-off ceremony involved a big celebration in the capital, Cairo. The kiswa began its journey via the citadel forecourt accompanied by knights and officials, drums and fanfares and flanked by a huge crowd of ordinary citizens.