FAITH COMES IN COLOR - MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (2023)

Each year on December 12th, millions of pilgrims gather at Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City to celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe's miracle. This event marks the 500th anniversary of her appearance to Juan Diego and the imprinting of her image on his cloak, leading to the construction of the Basilica.

Now a national holiday, the pilgrimage attracts diverse ethnic groups from across Mexico, many traveling for weeks on foot or by bicycle. Pilgrims carry sacred items, which are blessed by priests and returned to their communities.

The event is a vibrant display of cultural diversity, with groups honoring the Virgin in traditional attire and blending precolonial beliefs with Catholic rituals. This photographic series captures the devotion and cultural richness of the celebration.