Filled with sequins, samba and glitter, the famous carnival parades will kick off in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, bringing the first full-on-edition of the festival held since the bitter elections of Brazil and Covid-19, to its climax.

The biggest carnival in the world, which officially started on Friday, will see a peak in its party level during the all-night parade competition to be held on Sunday and Monday, where the top 12 samba schools of the city will compete to become the champions with their display of mesmerizing floats, enthralling music and numerous drummers, dancers and singers wearing feather-covered, skimpy costumes.

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-brazilians-celebrate-life-as-rio-carnival-returns-563262">In pics | Brazilians celebrate life as Rio carnival returns</a>

The party was declared open by Mayor Eduardo Paes on Friday, as he handed the city's key symbolically to "King Momo" or the jovial "monarch" who will "rule" Rio for the next four days.

"It is with great happiness, celebrating life, celebrating democracy, that I have the honour of handing the keys to the city to King Momo," Paes said, who has been an avid carnival lover.

After two pandemic-hit carnivals and a polarised presidential election that took place in October, Rio is now in full mood to party. In 2021, Rio cancelled the carnival and organised a reduced version of the festival last year, as it placed a ban on the epic street parties, also called "blocos", and the parades were postponed by two months due to the pandemic. However, this year, the full-on festival is back.

WATCH | Hundreds throng Rio De Janeiro, carnival festivities in Brazil begin

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Founder of the massive annual street party, also called "Heaven on Earth", Pericles Monteiro said, “This is a moment of rebirth We went through a very dark period, in terms of both politics and the pandemic.”&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Filled with sequins, samba and glitter, the famous carnival parades will kick off in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, bringing the first full-on-edition of the festival held since the bitter elections of Brazil and Covid-19, to its climax.

Filled with sequins, samba and glitter, the famous carnival parades will kick off in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, bringing the first full-on-edition of the festival held since the bitter elections of Brazil and Covid-19, to its climax. The biggest carnival in the world, which officially started on Friday, will see a peak in its party level during the all-night parade competition to be held on Sunday and Monday, where the top 12 samba schools of the city will compete to become the champions with their display of mesmerizing floats, enthralling music and numerous drummers, dancers and singers wearing feather-covered, skimpy costumes. ALSO READ | In pics | Brazilians celebrate life as Rio carnival returns The party was declared open by Mayor Eduardo Paes on Friday, as he handed the city's key symbolically to "King Momo" or the jovial "monarch" who will "rule" Rio for the next four days. "It is with great happiness, celebrating life, celebrating democracy, that I have the honour of handing the keys to the city to King Momo," Paes said, who has been an avid carnival lover. After two pandemic-hit carnivals and a polarised presidential election that took place in October, Rio is now in full mood to party. In 2021, Rio cancelled the carnival and organised a reduced version of the festival last year, as it placed a ban on the epic street parties, also called "blocos", and the parades were postponed by two months due to the pandemic. However, this year, the full-on festival is back. WATCH | Hundreds throng Rio De Janeiro, carnival festivities in Brazil begin Founder of the massive annual street party, also called "Heaven on Earth", Pericles Monteiro said, “This is a moment of rebirth We went through a very dark period, in terms of both politics and the pandemic.” (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Rio to kick off its famous carnival parades amid glitter and samba

Rio de Janeiro Carnival: Grande Rio Samba School wins parade competition

Grande Rio Samba School was the champion of Rio de Janeiro Carnival parade this year. The carnival, which was organised for the first time since the pandemic, witnessed a disputed parade competition. Grande Rio Samba School's victory in the competition officially closed Brazil's festivities. The school has won top prize in the competition for the first time. For four consecutive years in the past, the school has only reached second place.

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During the Rio parade, the schools are judged across several categories. Among them are their carnival floats. Grande Rio Samba School's float was dedicated to the deity Exu, a kind of messenger bridging the gap between the human and the divine. The design, technical functioning, costumes, drum section, theme, lyrics and overall execution is also closed observed. Judges observe how a school has used the time limit and how they prevent open spaces between sections of the parade.

This year's event was pushed back from its traditional date in February to April due to an increase in COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spread through the country.

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Grande Rio Samba School is from the impoverished neighbourhood of Duque de Caxias.

"We conceived our parade as a defense of our beliefs against religious racism and the demonization of Exu," said the school's creative director, Leonardo Bora.

It was a politically charged choice of theme in a Brazil where Afro-Brazilian faiths such as Candomble and Umbanda have been widely demonized by the country's powerful Evangelical Christian movement, which is closely allied with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.

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Twelve samba schools took part in the all-night contest Friday and Saturday, which had the city's dedicated carnival parade venue, the "Sambadrome," throbbing to the beat as a glittering, sequin-studded sea of dancers, drummers and floats flooded the avenue

(With inputs from agencies)

Grande Rio Samba School was the champion of Rio de Janeiro Carnival parade this year. The carnival, which was organised for the first time since the pandemic, witnessed a disputed parade competition.

Grande Rio Samba School was the champion of Rio de Janeiro Carnival parade this year. The carnival, which was organised for the first time since the pandemic, witnessed a disputed parade competition. Grande Rio Samba School's victory in the competition officially closed Brazil's festivities. The school has won top prize in the competition for the first time. For four consecutive years in the past, the school has only reached second place. During the Rio parade, the schools are judged across several categories. Among them are their carnival floats. Grande Rio Samba School's float was dedicated to the deity Exu, a kind of messenger bridging the gap between the human and the divine. The design, technical functioning, costumes, drum section, theme, lyrics and overall execution is also closed observed. Judges observe how a school has used the time limit and how they prevent open spaces between sections of the parade. This year's event was pushed back from its traditional date in February to April due to an increase in COVID-19 cases as the Omicron variant spread through the country. Grande Rio Samba School is from the impoverished neighbourhood of Duque de Caxias. "We conceived our parade as a defense of our beliefs against religious racism and the demonization of Exu," said the school's creative director, Leonardo Bora. It was a politically charged choice of theme in a Brazil where Afro-Brazilian faiths such as Candomble and Umbanda have been widely demonized by the country's powerful Evangelical Christian movement, which is closely allied with far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. WATCH WION LIVE HERE × Twelve samba schools took part in the all-night contest Friday and Saturday, which had the city's dedicated carnival parade venue, the "Sambadrome," throbbing to the beat as a glittering, sequin-studded sea of dancers, drummers and floats flooded the avenue (With inputs from agencies)

Rio Carnival parade: Grande Rio Samba School crowned champion

Mythical sambista Moacyr Luz is back on stage with his band Samba do Trabalhador, or the "Workers' Samba", after Rio de Janeiro's mayor greenlit the return of samba jam sessions following a seven-month virus halt, although the traditional "roda" (circle) will change format to avoid physical contact.

Samba makes cautious return in Rio as virus lockdown eases

Several of Rio de Janeiro's elite samba schools paraded through the famed Sambadrome in a spectacular competition on Monday (February 24) in the hopes of winning bragging rights for this year's best display.

Rio shimmers for samba extravaganza at carnival

Three mortar shells were found near Sangawali village in Samba on Monday.

Upon observing the suspicious object, people immediately alerted police.&nbsp;

The bomb disposal squad and police team then recovered three mortar shells.

However, sources said the shells were old and they got displaced due to rains.&nbsp;

Police searched the entire area to ensure that no other shells were present there.

Three mortar shells were found near Sangawali village in Samba on Monday. Upon observing the suspicious object, people immediately alerted police. The bomb disposal squad and police team then recovered three mortar shells.

Three mortar shells were found near Sangawali village in Samba on Monday. Upon observing the suspicious object, people immediately alerted police. The bomb disposal squad and police team then recovered three mortar shells. However, sources said the shells were old and they got displaced due to rains. Police searched the entire area to ensure that no other shells were present there.

Jammu Kashmir: Three mortar shells found near Sangawali village in Samba

A Pakistani national was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) near Samba sector on Wednesday, officials said.

The person has been identified as Mohammad Afzal, a resident of Narowal in Nihar district of Pakistan.

"The alleged intruder was apprehended by the patrol party near Samba sector. He has been identified as Mohammad Afzal son of Liyakat Ali and a resident of Narowal in Nihar district of Pakistan," BSF said.

It is yet to be revealed if anything suspicious was recovered from him.

A Pakistani national was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) near Samba sector on Wednesday, officials said. The person has been identified as Mohammad Afzal, a resident of Narowal in Nihar district of Pakistan.

A Pakistani national was arrested by the Border Security Force (BSF) near Samba sector on Wednesday, officials said. The person has been identified as Mohammad Afzal, a resident of Narowal in Nihar district of Pakistan. "The alleged intruder was apprehended by the patrol party near Samba sector. He has been identified as Mohammad Afzal son of Liyakat Ali and a resident of Narowal in Nihar district of Pakistan," BSF said. It is yet to be revealed if anything suspicious was recovered from him.

J&K: BSF apprehends Pakistani national near Samba sector

A Pakistani intruder was on Friday arrested along the international border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) said.

The intruder was apprehended by BSF troops in Ramgarh sector, an official of the border guarding force said.&nbsp;

He said alert BSF personnel noticed the person and caught him soon after he sneaked into this side from Pakistan.&nbsp;

He was arrested and is being interrogated, the official said without giving further details.&nbsp;

A Pakistani intruder was on Friday arrested along the international border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) said. The intruder was apprehended by BSF troops in Ramgarh sector, an official of the border guarding force said.

A Pakistani intruder was on Friday arrested along the international border (IB) in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Border Security Force (BSF) said. The intruder was apprehended by BSF troops in Ramgarh sector, an official of the border guarding force said. He said alert BSF personnel noticed the person and caught him soon after he sneaked into this side from Pakistan. He was arrested and is being interrogated, the official said without giving further details.

Pak intruder held in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba

Hours after "pleading" with the BSF to stop firing, the Pakistani forces again conducted unprovoked firing and shelling along the International border in Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of May 20-21.

The forces opened fire on the Indian side at around 10:30 pm in J&K's&nbsp;Arnia&nbsp;and Ramgarh sector of Samba.

The shelling was followed by mortar firing targetting the forward posts of the BSF and villages.

The Pak army's plea came after one of its soldiers succumbed to injuries after he was hit by heavy artillery from across the border.&nbsp;

There was no casualty reported as yet.

A BSF spokesperson said on Saturday,"(Pakistan) Rangers called up the Jammu BSF formation today and beseeched to stop firing".

"The befitting reply by the BSF units to the unprovoked shelling and firing across the IB by the Pakistani forces has forced them to plead for a ceasefire," a senior official said.

The firing from the Pakistani side has come amid the government's&nbsp;suspension of operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the month of Ramzan.

The Union Ministry's order which will continue until June 16 has asked the&nbsp;security forces not to conduct operations during the month of Ramzan in J&K.

The forces, however, have the right to retaliate if attacked or to safeguard the lives of innocent people.&nbsp;

 
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The ceasefire was violated in Jammu and Kashmir's Arnia and Ramgarh sector of Samba

Hours after "pleading" with the BSF to stop firing, the Pakistani forces again conducted unprovoked firing and shelling along the International border in Jammu and Kashmir on the intervening night of May 20-21. The forces opened fire on the Indian side at around 10:30 pm in J&K's Arnia and Ramgarh sector of Samba. The shelling was followed by mortar firing targetting the forward posts of the BSF and villages. The Pak army's plea came after one of its soldiers succumbed to injuries after he was hit by heavy artillery from across the border. There was no casualty reported as yet. A BSF spokesperson said on Saturday,"(Pakistan) Rangers called up the Jammu BSF formation today and beseeched to stop firing". "The befitting reply by the BSF units to the unprovoked shelling and firing across the IB by the Pakistani forces has forced them to plead for a ceasefire," a senior official said. The firing from the Pakistani side has come amid the government's suspension of operations against militants in Jammu and Kashmir during the month of Ramzan. The Union Ministry's order which will continue until June 16 has asked the security forces not to conduct operations during the month of Ramzan in J&K. The forces, however, have the right to retaliate if attacked or to safeguard the lives of innocent people.

Hours after 'pleading' with BSF to stop shooting, Pakistan violates ceasefire

The Border Security Force (BSF) troops foiled an infiltration bid along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir.

As per media reports, Pakistan violated ceasefire to give cover to militants. But alert BSF troops fired upon the infiltrators forcing them to return.

Since then, no suspicious movement has been witnessed.&nbsp;

No injury or loss of life has been reported so far. &nbsp;

More details are awaited.&nbsp;

No injury or loss of life has been reported so far.

The Border Security Force (BSF) troops foiled an infiltration bid along the International Border in Samba district of Jammu and Kashmir. As per media reports, Pakistan violated ceasefire to give cover to militants. But alert BSF troops fired upon the infiltrators forcing them to return. Since then, no suspicious movement has been witnessed. No injury or loss of life has been reported so far. More details are awaited.

J&K: BSF foils infiltration bid along International Border in Samba

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