The official ceremony to raise the kiswah, the black silk curtain that is draped over the Kaaba, began on Sunday. All photos: @ReasahAlharmain via Twitter
The ceremony symbolises the start of the pilgrimage season.
The silk curtain is 14 metres high and 47 metres in length.
It is raised by three metres to avoid potential damage caused by pilgrims who touch or hold on to it during the Tawaf, the circuits of the Kaaba.
The kiswah is made from 670 kilograms of raw silk, with verses from the Quran woven in gold thread.
The verses are woven using 120kg of gold and 100kg of silver thread.
The kiswah is replaced every year during Hajj, after the pilgrims go to Mount Arafat.
The creation of a new kiswah involves more than 200 specialist fabric workers, as well as the hundreds of kilograms of black silk.
It is affixed to the stone by copper rings at the foot of the marble base.
The embroidered curtain was put on the Kaaba gate for the first time between 1300 and 1396.
Pilgrims have begun to gather in Makkah in preparation of the start of Hajj next month.
Protective cover added to the kiswah in Makkah – in pictures
