Week of carnival celebrations kicks off in Brazil - in pictures

A dancer of the Beija-Flor samba school during the official opening of Carnival Photograph: Buda Mendes/Getty Images Revellers attend the annual block party known as the Carmelitas Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters Watching the Carmelitas block party Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters Rio de Janeiro's mayor, Eduardo Paes (centre, left), and the Rei Momo, or Carnival King, Milton Junior (centre right), pose for pictures during the handing over of the ceremonial key to the city Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters A child dressed in costume attends the Carmelitas parade, which is always held on the Friday prior to the beginning of the Rio Carnival, on the streets of the Santa Teresa neighbourhood Photograph: Antonio Lacerda/EPA Revellers dance at the Carmelitas, one of many carnival parties that take place in neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro Photograph: Sergio Moraes/Reuters A woman with face painting poses for photographs at the Carmelitas Photograph: Antonio Lacerda/EPA A Brazilian woman dons traditional attire as a girl looks on on the first day of Carnival celebrations in Salvador Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images Brazilians perform capoeira – a Brazilian martial art and dance form developed by slaves in the region – on the first day of Carnival celebrations Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images A member of the Beija-Flor samba school works on a float in Samba City, Rio de Janeiro Photograph: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images Brazilians march along a colourful street with drums Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images A couple kiss before performing in the Carnival Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images Patients and relatives gather before the Loucura Suburbana carnival parade at the Nise de Silveira mental health institute in Rio de Janeiro. Patients, relatives and workers participate in one of the many parades that take place in the city before the famed start of Carnival Photograph: Silvia Izquierdo/AP Revellers smile at a masquerade party during Carnival celebrations in Salvador, Brazil Photograph: Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters Members of the Inocentes da Caprichosos samba school rehearse for the Children Samba School parade at the Sambodrome in Rio de Janeiro Photograph: Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty Images A member of the samba school Grupo Especial Rosas de Ouro at Anhembi Sambodromo, in São Paulo, Brazil Photograph: Sebastio Moreira/EPA A reveller parades for the Vai Vai Samba School at Anhembi Sambadrome in São Paulo Photograph: Paulo Whitaker/Reuters Members of the Ilu Oba de Min percussion band waiting to perform along the downtown streets of São Paulo Photograph: Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty Images Dancers from samba school Grupo Especial Camisa Verde e Branco take part in the opening parade of Carnival in São Paulo Photograph: Sebasti o Moreira/EPA A reveller of Rosas de Ouro samba school waits to participate in the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome in São Paulo Photograph: Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images Brazilian women dance during the annual block party Afro Ilu Oba De Min, one of the Carnival parties in São Paulo Photograph: Nacho Doce/Reuters Drummers perform during the Carnival parade of Camisa Verde e Branco samba school in São Paulo Photograph: Andre Penner/AP A reveller of the Rosas de Ouro samba school dances during the opening night of parades at the Sambadrome in São Paulo Photograph: Vanessa Carvalho/AFP/Getty Images