BEFORE THE KUMBH (India, 2007)

Once every twelve years, in the Indian city of Allahabad, the Kumbh Mela religious festival takes place. This festival lasts for a month and draws millions of pilgrims from all of India. By bathing at the confluence of the Yamuna and Ganges rivers, they hope to be cleansed of their sins. An immense tent camp is established on the banks to house the pilgrims. Philipp Ebeling and Olivia Arthur recorded this temporary city just before the beginning of the festival in photographs that radiate calm and expectation.