Photographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
Brazil's most famous party, the annual Carnival of Brazil, took off on March 4.
This year the festivities will continue till Tuesday. The parades are watched by millions in Brazil and abroad.
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In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's SambadromePhotographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual carnival paradePhotographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's SambadromePhotographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: Drum Queen Luiza Brunet of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participates in the annual Carnival paradePhotographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: Revellers of the Imperatriz Leopoldinense samba school participate in the annual Carnival parade in RioPhotographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
The bottom placing two schools can't participate in the following year's competition, it is of cultural significance that each school receives enough points based on music, timing, and visual appearance.
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: The annual carnival parade in Rio de Janeiro's SambadromePhotographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: A reveller of the Vila Isabel samba school participates in the annual Carnival paradePhotographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: A reveller of the Unidos da Tijuca samba schoolPhotographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
Unidos de Tijuco is the reigning parade champion, having carried off last year's event with a pastiche of stage delights, including Batman on skis and a Michael Jackson impersonator dancing on a float inhabited by aliens. This year, the school was looking to outdo itself with its long bow to US blockbusters.
Thus the school put its $5 million parade budget to innovative use.
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
Elaborate multi-tiered floats feature in the parades. Colossal effort goes into designing the parades.
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Photographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
During his performance he stopped to say hello to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen and give her American football player husband, Tom Brady, an awkwardly long handshake.
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: Revellers of the Portela samba school participate in the annual Carnival paradePhotographs: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
In PHOTOS: Sizzling carnival party on Rio's streets
Image: A reveller of the Portela samba school participates in the annual CarnivalPhotographs: Sergio Moraes/Reuters
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