In Pics: Brazil's spectacular Rio Carnival returns

Brazil's Rio de Janeiro is ready to party after two pandemic-disrupted carnivals and a polarising presidential election in October, in which veteran leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ousted incumbent Jair Bolsonaro -- an ultra-conservative carnival critic accused of authoritarian tendencies who was regularly the target of protests and mockery during the festivities. Rio's mayor declared the world's biggest carnival officially open on Friday (February 17) for the first full-scale edition in three years, calling it a celebration of life and democracy after the turmoil of Covid-19 and Brazil's bitterly divisive elections.

A reveller from Unidos de Vila Maria school performs during the first night of the Carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Reuters Photo

A reveller in orange attire performs during the first night of the Carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Reuters Photo

Participants from Unidos de Vila Maria school perform during the first night of the Carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Reuters Photo

A tableau from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform during the first night of carnival, at Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: AFP Photo

A reveller from Unidos de Vila Maria school performs during the first night of the Carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Reuters Photo

Revellers of the Academicos do Tatuape samba school perform during the first night of carnival, at Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: AFP Photo

A reveller grooves on the first day of the Carnival parade at Anhembi Sambadrome in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: Reuters Photo

A reveller of the Unidos de Vila Maria samba school performs during the first night of carnival, at Sambadrome, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Credit: AFP Photo

A dancer from the Academicos do Tatuape samba school performs during a carnival parade in Sao Paulo. Credit: AFP Photo