Mariana Zilbershteyn, Trigger Play (PEOPLE 2025)

Web:

https://www.mzphotography.com.au/

Kumbh Mela, 2025 — In the midst of the sprawling religious festival, a young child is led through the throngs of pilgrims, walking with a black plastic toy gun held in his hand, the barrel placed in his mouth. Dust clings to his skin and worn clothes, hinting at a life lived on the streets. Around him, the fairgrounds teem with movement—pilgrims absorbed in ritual, vendors calling out, feet stirring up the dry earth. The moment captures a quiet tension between childhood play and the weight of daily survival, revealing how the most vulnerable navigate the crowded spaces of faith, spectacle, and 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.