A difficult pilgrimage in the Himalayas

Nanda Devi Raj Yatra is the longest and most difficult pilgrimage in the world, which is held in the Himalayas every 12 years. The path that pilgrims take to the Holy Land is difficult and long — within three weeks they have to overcome 290 kilometers, of which 230 are barefoot. This time the pilgrims were accompanied by photographer Martushka Fromeast (Marta Kotlyarska), who documented their difficult journey in the Himalayas. Her photographs have been awarded the prestigious Indian Abhivyakti Gaurav Samman Award.

Pilgrims on their way to the Holy Mountain. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast)

Pilgrims during a ritual bathing. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast)

The participant of the pilgrimage is in a trance state. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast)

Pilgrims carry a four-horned ram. According to the beliefs of the pilgrims, the ram released on the Holy Mountain will go to Kailas - a sacred mountain for 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)

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

This is perhaps the longest way to the place of pilgrimage, which worshippers must go to the place of worship and prayer. And the hardest — three weeks in the mountains barefoot. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast)

Photographer Martushka Fromeast (Marta Kotlyarska) 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 the organization Click Academy, which makes various photo projects in cooperation with other organizations. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast)

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

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

Pilgrims carry the covered burdens of the goddess Nanda and her sisters up the hill. (Photo: Martushka Fromeast)

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

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