Mariana Zilbershteyn, Kids of Kumbh (DOCO 2025)

Mahakumbh 2025 was a place of faith, ritual, and contrast, where devotion and survival intertwined. Children arrived with their families, stepping into the sacred river for their first dip, laughter and splashes turning purification into play. Girls wrapped in wet saris dressed in the open, modesty shaped by tradition rather than walls. Nearby, a young boy walked barefoot through the crowds holding a toy gun whist begging for rupees - a child not of pilgrimage, but of necessity. Elsewhere, tiny heads were shaved, strands of hair gathered in offerings to the divine, marking a rite of passage in the cycle of faith. In this vast sea of devotion, childhood unfolded in many forms - some embraced in tradition, others shaped by struggle.

Images have been resized for web display, which may cause some loss of image quality. Note: Original high-resolution images are used for judging.