"The mahoud" It tops the 4 rare types of Al-Ahsaa tambourine… and its price is equivalent to 4 beshut

Polarizes «The Rudder House” in The Al-Hasawi Bisht Festival at Ibrahim Al-Zowar Palace, where the Heritage Authority reviews the history of the Al-Ahsa abaya and its four rare types, documenting the journey of its transformation from a popular costume into a cultural icon that reflects national identity.

The festival, in its third edition, is witnessing an active cultural movement, represented by the influx of visitors, specifically the female component, to get to know closely the details of the “female helm” and what distinguishes its fine weaving that matches the quality of the men’s bisht.

The rudder…the historical name of the abaya

The researcher and trainer specializing in the Al-Hasawi bisht, Muhammad Al-Amir, explained that “the rudder” is the historical name of the abaya in Al-Ahsa, indicating that the region was distinguished in the past by its manufacture and export to neighboring countries and various regions of the Kingdom.

The “prince” explained that the craftsmen who excelled in weaving the bisht were the same ones who crafted the details of the women’s tambourine, which made it stand on an equal footing with him in quality and value, before the styles of dress changed and the modern shoulder abaya appeared.

The researcher revealed the class and social division of the tambourine, as the first type, “the angled one,” came from thick local wool, and was intended for the people of The desert and those with limited income, and it is distinguished by its extreme length to ensure that it is passed down from mother to daughter in an early model of sustainability.

The speaker touched on the second type called “Al-Janaa”, which is the clothing of affluent families intended for daily use, and is woven from silk in the summer and fine wool in the winter, decorated with zari threads and large cotton to reflect economic well-being.

The “Prince” reviewed the details of the third type. “Al-Suwai’iyya”, whose name is derived from wearing it for specific hours on special occasions, is special for the families of the newlyweds, and is distinguished by wealthy families by transforming the decorations and the fabric into “amail” of pure gold.

The history of the mahod

The researcher shed light on «” as the fourth and most luxurious type, which is the bride’s dress on the wedding night, which disappeared 60 years ago with the advent of the white dress, and its price in the past was equivalent to the cost of four men’s brocade due to the density of the buttons used in it.

The “Prince” highlighted the human side in the history of “the mahoud”, as he embodied images of social solidarity by exchanging it between the families of one neighborhood “Al-Farij” to lend it to the neighbors’ daughters for their weddings, which eased The financial burden and strengthened community cohesion.

Current indicators confirmed the escalation of interest in national identity, as associations such as “Antiquities and Heritage” in the Eastern Province took the initiative to hold specialized courses in the production of heritage costumes, which witnessed a large turnout that reflects the community’s desire to revive the past.

In a related context, Afnan Al-Qahtani, Director of Public Relations for the Al-Mahoud Factory affiliated with

For Al-Ahsa Girl Association, the factory represents one of Saudi Aramco’s initiatives to support handicrafts and develop products that meet the needs of the modern market.

Al-Qahtani indicated that the factory works according to three strategic paths that include the production of all kinds of hats, the development of a line of products such as bags and medals, in addition to the contract path for executing orders for large quantities and luxury gifts.

She emphasized the success of the factory in inspiring culture The old women’s bisht and presenting the “Mahood” in an innovative, lighter and more precise way, to suit the taste of the current generation without compromising its ancient, original identity.