Kiswa of Kaaba raised 3 meters in preparation for Hajj

Kaaba’s Kiswa, the black cloth draped around the holy shrine, was raised 3 meters in preparation for the new Hajj season and was replaced with white cloth instead on Wednesday.
The procedure is done every year before the Hajj season in order to protect the Kiswa, as some pilgrims touch and pull on the black cloth when they circumambulate the Kaaba.
Every year, the old black silk cloth that covers the Kaaba is removed and a new one is draped on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhul Hijjah.
The Kiswa’s fabric is produced in the form of large pieces, each 10 centimeters wide and 14 meters long. Each side of the Kaaba is constructed individually according to the width of each side.