Portraits of the Kumbh (People 2014, by Hession Justin) - Swiss Press Award

Kommt in 2014

Hession Justin

In 2013, the world's largest gathering of people took place on the banks of the Ganges in Allahabad, India. An estimated 100 million people bathed in the holy waters here. This series of photographs attempts to capture captivating portraits of the pilgrims the festival attracts every twelve years. A mobile studio allowed the colorful, circus-like atmosphere of the Kumbh to be masked, focusing on the grace of each individual pilgrim. This collection shows people drawn to the large, noisy, and chaotic event in search of a pure life, and in doing so, aims to highlight the personal dignity of this great spiritual festival. Through the beauty of portrait photography, I hope to reveal the human ambiguities and complexity of the Kumbh and to draw attention to the incredible spiritual devotion of the Indian people.