RIO DE JANEIRO: Carnival in Brazil is still two weeks away, but Rio de Janeiro's revelers kicked off the party on Saturday as thousands paraded through the streets of Ipanema beach.
Thousands of revelers wearing all types of costumes flocked to the annual block party known as Banda de Ipanema, just one of the many street processions that take over the city's neighborhoods.
The band, which is a favorite of Rio's gay community, pounded out samba songs with irreverent lyrics while transvestites struggled to stay upright in stiletto heels.
A transvestite, known as Juju Maravilha, said Carnival is a democratic festivity.
"The rich (people) and the poor (people) party, the fat and the thin (party), the young and the elder (party), Carnival is a true democracy," said Maravilha, who as wearing a Carmen Miranda costume.
This year, Banda de Ipanema decided to pay tribute to the famous Brazilian architect, Oscar Niemeyer and some transvestites used outfits inspired by his buildings.
Rio has some 600 neighbourhood groups known as "blocos", many of which have existed since the beginning of the 20th century.
To the beat of drums, revelers wearing masks and other garments chanted the group's song or "marchinha" as they danced freely with the large crowd.
Lawyer Ailton de Andrade said he and his family attend the parade every year dressed as clowns.
"I always come with my family. At the Carnival, we're the happy family of clowns, it's our theme. We come every year with a new costume, every year we make clown costumes, every year we are here representing ourselves," he said.
Some of the bigger blocos have become victims of their own success in recent years, attracting crowds so large that even the musicians have trouble breaking through the gridlock.
The main parades start on February 13, but the blocos begin to party in the streets of Rio long before the large samba schools go down the Sambadrome avenue.
The pre-Lenten festivities begin on February 12 when Rio officials give the key to the city to King Momo - the Lord of Misrule - and finish on the morning of Ash Wednesday.
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