Alejandra Rajal

Documentary Photographer

alerajal.com

Confraternity / Brotherhood

Location: Puebla, Mexico

Nationality: Mexican

Biography: Alejandra Rajal is a documentary photographer born and based in Mexico. Her vision focuses mainly on creating awareness of different realities, aiming to social conscience, empathy, and sensibility to others. Currently, she works as a freelance... read on

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Black is the color of the Confraternity of Nazarenes. Even though there is a visual uniformity within the group, there is a clear separation between genders and ranks.

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The religious group receives donations from its members to decorate the church on special days. There are families from different incomes but most of them come from a low-income economic situation.

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Rodrigo, became a member of the Confraternity because his family comes here. Most kids are a little shy but he came very confidently and asked to pose for a photo.

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Brother Marco Castañeda tries on the conical hat known as capirote.

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Red carnations are always the chosen flower for the Nazarenes to decorate the image of Jesus.

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Women in the confraternity play a different role usually in the choir or the band but none of them can take part in the decision-making of the group.

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Money donations from believers of the Church.

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This altar took two days to be built between two of the members of the group. Here everyone always finds ways to cooperate.

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Dr. Arturo Sanchéz Barragán prays before the image of Jesus of Nazarene as a tradition before moving him for the Holy Week celebrations. He is the Hermano Mayor (Big Brother) and leader of the Confraternity.

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Brother Francisco Aguilar, member of the chorus awaits for the procession of Silence to start.

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Hooded brothers leave the church to start their penance for the Holy Friday procession.

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The procession of Holy Friday in Puebla is one of the biggest in Latinamerica with over 100,000 believers reunited.

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Brothers of the Confraternity change clothing for the mass of the Apostles during Holy Thursday.

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Brother Axel Ortega has been preparing for Holy Week since the beginning of the year.

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Behind the hood, every brother has a personal story. Being part of the confraternity sometimes means leaving individuality behind and embracing collectivity. Brother José Roberto has been a member of the confraternity for seven years and hooded for three.

Public Story

Confraternity / Brotherhood

Credits: alejandra rajal

Date of Work: 02/01/18 - Ongoing

Updated: 06/03/20

Location: Puebla, Mexico

Archived as: Belief, Christianity, Community, Documentary, Essays, Faith, Historical, Photography, Photojournalism, Portraiture, Religion, Spirituality, Travel

Cultus is a project where I am trying to understand the evolution of faith in Mexico after the evangelization of it. This first part explores an ultraconservative group that arrived in 1545 and eventually was forgotten during the "Reforma Laws" (1861), usually known as a Confraternity or Brotherhood. I´ve been documenting the Confraternity of Nazarenos that went through a 132-year-old ban in Puebla, Mexico, and their efforts to adapt to a new era.