Difficult pilgrimage in the Himalayas

Nanda Devi Raj Yatra is the longest and most difficult pilgrimage in the world, taking place in the Himalayas every 12 years. The path that the pilgrims take to the Holy Land is difficult and long - within three weeks they must cover 290 kilometers, of which 230 are barefoot. This time, the pilgrims were accompanied by photographer Martushka From the east, who documented their difficult journey in the Himalayas. Her photographs have been honored with the prestigious Indian Abhivyakti Gaurav Samman award.

12 PHOTOS

1. Pilgrims on the way to the Holy Mountain. (Photo: Martushka From east).

This pilgrimage is dedicated to the worship of Nanda Devi, the mother goddess - the holy mountain, the highest mountain located in the Indian part of the Himalayas.

2. Pilgrims during the ritual bathing. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

Pilgrims not only from India but also from other parts of the world take part in the pilgrimage of Nanda Devi Raj Yatra.

3. A participant in the pilgrimage in a state of trance. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

Nanda Devi Raj Yatra was supposed to take place last year, but due to heavy rains in Uttarakhand, which led to numerous casualties and destruction, it was decided to postpone the pilgrimage to 2014.

4. Pilgrims carry a four-horned ram. According to the beliefs of the pilgrims, the ram released on the holy mountain will go to Kailash - a sacred mountain for the believers of four religions - Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, and Bon adherents - for whom this mountain is "the heart of the world and the axis of the earth." (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

5. On the way to the Holy Mountain, according to tradition, pilgrims perform many different rituals, one of which is captured in this photo. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

6. This is perhaps the longest way to the place of pilgrimage, which must go to the place of worship and prayer pilgrims. And the most difficult - three weeks barefoot in the mountains. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

7. Photographer Martushka Fromeast is a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Poznan and Central Saint Martin's College of Arts and Design in London. She founded Click Academy, which does various photography projects in collaboration with other organizations. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

8. Marta Kotlyarska is the initiator of the Stories from the Himalayas project, the first part of which - about shamans in Nepal - was shown in India, Georgia, China, Nepal, Poland, Austria and the UK. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

9. One of the pilgrimage participants Nanda Devi Raj Yatra. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

10. Pilgrims carry the covered burdens of the goddess Nanda and her sisters up to Mount Doli. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

11. One of the pilgrims during the pilgrimage of Nanda Devi Raj Yatra. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).

12. Pilgrims of one of the longest and most difficult pilgrimages in the world. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast).