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Dressed to party
Brazil is in celebration mode as five-day carnival is under way
STAR POWER: Soccer player Ronaldo waving to the crowds at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo.
SPIRITED: A reveller of the Aguia de Ouro samba school performing at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo.
IN THE MOOD: Brazilian model Sabrina Sato from the Gavioes da Fiel samba school takes part in the festivities in Sao Paulo's Sambadrome.
More than a million Rio Carnival revellers put aside bitterness at Brazilain leaders to join the wild festivities on Saturday in what has been dubbed "the greatest show on earth".
Many participants said they had resolved to forget - at least until festivities end tommorrow - issues like corruption and the cost of hosting the World Cup, AFP reported.
The Rio tourist board said 1.3 million people people joined the fray to cavort as the Marvellous City's oldest bloco, or street party group Cordao da Bola Preta, danced to a raucous samba beat. A total of four million are accepted during the entire five-day event.
But there was a reminder of some of Brazil's social problems as festivities in the northern city of Salvador were tainted by the fatal shooting of a young man. The 27-year-old victim was shot six times.
Military police unit also used tear gas to disperse a group of "garis", or carnival cleaners, who are demanding better pay and conditions.
Rio police 117 people for urinating in public, local media reported.
Otherwise, relative calm reigned as throngs of locals and foreigners continue to swarm the city centre where 12 elite samba schools will bid for the annual Carnival crown at the city's famed Sambadrome.
One reveller, who gave her name only as Rosana, said that Brazilians can be optimistic in a World Cup year, despite the country struggling with its preparations.
"Brazil is getting better. We are a united people who maybe have to break a few things in the system. But not windows," said the 27-year-old, speaking for most Brazilians who are horrified at how anarchists latched onto the recent protests to spark clashes with military police.
Brazil is in celebration mode as five-day carnival is under way
STAR POWER: Soccer player Ronaldo waving to the crowds at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo.
SPIRITED: A reveller of the Aguia de Ouro samba school performing at the Sambadrome in Sao Paulo.
IN THE MOOD: Brazilian model Sabrina Sato from the Gavioes da Fiel samba school takes part in the festivities in Sao Paulo's Sambadrome.
More than a million Rio Carnival revellers put aside bitterness at Brazilain leaders to join the wild festivities on Saturday in what has been dubbed "the greatest show on earth".
Many participants said they had resolved to forget - at least until festivities end tommorrow - issues like corruption and the cost of hosting the World Cup, AFP reported.
The Rio tourist board said 1.3 million people people joined the fray to cavort as the Marvellous City's oldest bloco, or street party group Cordao da Bola Preta, danced to a raucous samba beat. A total of four million are accepted during the entire five-day event.
But there was a reminder of some of Brazil's social problems as festivities in the northern city of Salvador were tainted by the fatal shooting of a young man. The 27-year-old victim was shot six times.
Military police unit also used tear gas to disperse a group of "garis", or carnival cleaners, who are demanding better pay and conditions.
Rio police 117 people for urinating in public, local media reported.
Otherwise, relative calm reigned as throngs of locals and foreigners continue to swarm the city centre where 12 elite samba schools will bid for the annual Carnival crown at the city's famed Sambadrome.
One reveller, who gave her name only as Rosana, said that Brazilians can be optimistic in a World Cup year, despite the country struggling with its preparations.
"Brazil is getting better. We are a united people who maybe have to break a few things in the system. But not windows," said the 27-year-old, speaking for most Brazilians who are horrified at how anarchists latched onto the recent protests to spark clashes with military police.
