Rio's Sambadrome blessed ahead of Carnival

Followers of Afro-Brazilian religions of Umbanda and Candomble blessed the Sambadrome in a cleansing ritual a week ahead of the official start of the Rio de Janeiro Carnival.

This year’s carnival comes back to its original date, celebrated between the Friday before Ash Wednesday and Ash Wednesday itself, 47 days before Easter, after cancelations and rescheduling due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022. Rio de Janeiro’s special group Samba Schools will finally parade on the Sambadrome on Sunday 19th and Monday 20th of February.