The himiana (; modern Mandaic pronunciation: hemyanÃÂ) is a sacred ritual girdle or belt used by the Mandaeans. Traditionally, it is white, tubular, and made of wool.
Himiana is a Persian loanword, like burzinqa (turban) and margna (staff).
Unlike the Zoroastrian kushti, which is made of 72 threads, the Mandaean himiana is made of 60 woolen threads.
The himiana has a sewn end and an unsewn end. The sewn end, in the form of a loop, is called the arwa (à ¡Âà ¡Âà ¡ à ¡Â). The unsewn end, resembling a tassel, is called the karkuà ¡a (à ¡Âà ¡Âà ¡Âà ¡Âà ¡ à ¡Âà ¡Â).
According to Drower (1937), the following prayer is recited when a lay Mandaean puts on the himiana.