These photos offer a different perspective on La Tirana, the largest religious festival in northern Chile, where thousands of pilgrims arrive every July to honor the Virgin of Carmen.
Beyond the dances, the shimmering costumes, and the devotion, I wanted to focus on what happens behind the scenes: the food stands, the sun-bleached colors, and the objects left abandoned along the way.
Because all of that is also part of the celebration.
La Tirana is not just religion: it is a beautiful chaos where the sacred blends with the everyday, in a town that feels desolate for most of the year… and comes back to life only once annually