A colourful samba rendition

www.hindustantimes.com AP Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, March 7 In a colourful samba rendition of a classical biblical tale, a robe-clad Moses levitated atop a huge Carnival float, giving a dose of mystical magic to the finale of Brazil's famed pre-Lenten bash. An estimated 70,000 people watched as the Mangueira samba group paraded around a gilded 260-foot-long (87-meter) Pharaoh's palace with slaves wearing no more than G-strings and glitter, just enough to avoid breaking a rule against total nudity. The Mangueira theme of the Ten Commandments and its mandate against killing struck a responsive chord with the revellers who packed the city's renowned Sambadrome, singing along as the group passed the grandstands. More than 400,000 people flocked to Rio for Carnival amid unprecedented security after gang violence terrorized the city last week. "He who sows peace, reaps love," sang veteran samba crooner Jamelao, as Mangueira's 4,000 dancers and 300-member drum corps shimmied down Sambadrome's 700-yard (640-meter) parade runway. Nearby, thousands of soldiers with rifles and flak jackets stood guard near Rio's shantytowns and tourist destinations in an unprecedented show of force following five days of mayhem by drug gangs last week. Gang members apparently upset about the transfer of a notorious drug lord out of a Rio prison burned 48 cars and buses, sprayed supermarkets and police posts with gunfire and tossed six small bombs at apartment buildings. In the wake of the violence, about 40,000 police and soldiers one for every 10 Carnival visitors were deployed across Rio de Janeiro state to keep the peace. Scattered violence continued this week, with the killings of eight people in greater Rio on Monday, including two police officers, authorities said. Details were sketchy, but police said many of the incidents were routine and did nothing to upset the celebrations. Most occurred in areas far from the areas where the major Carnival events take place. The Sambadrome parades ended at dawn Tuesday with a closing march by the Imperatriz Leopoldinense group, the last of 14 that strutted their stuff before a team of judges. The samba groups are rated on their music, percussion, costumes, floats and enthusiasm. The winner will be announced Wednesday. Foreigners like Anna Michielotto were amazed at the elaborate choreography each samba group used to score points. "It's not like in Venice," said the 39-year-old museum director from Italy. "You have to participate. I'm coming back next year to parade." The threat of violence didn't stem the flood of visitors to Rio, and the state tourism board TurisRio said virtually all hotel rooms were booked. While visitors were aware of the gang violence, it didn't appear interfere with their partying. "Carnival is just great," said Teresa Golineleo, visiting Rio from the far southern Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. "If there was violence, we didn't see any. All the street parties were beautiful. It's just a great time." As the parades ended, the merriment turned to "blocos" small neighbourhood groups or bands with members wearing improvised costumes as they march through the streets. The blocos are widely considered the most authentic symbol of Carnival. Among the neighbourhood groups parading was the Banda de Ipanema, the city's most traditional Carnival street band. It draws crowds of drag queens and transvestites in outrageously overdone makeup, huge platform shoes and tiny miniskirts, dancing through the posh beachside zone of Ipanema to the sassy beat of trumpets and trombones. In the northeastern city of Salvador, which rivals Rio for the title of Brazil's best Carnival, thousands of revellers jammed streets behind the ear-splitting sound trucks known as electric trios. The more privileged like Brazilian super model Gisele Bundchen rode up top, where she sang along with pop star Daniela Mercury. By contrast, Carnival was muted in Brasilia, the nation's capital. With government offices shut, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declined offers to party and took time to rest. Carnival officially ends on Ash Wednesday, when some stores, banks and government offices begin to reopen and this predominantly Roman Catholic country slowly returns to work. But Rio's Carnival champions will parade again on Saturday, giving the winners and their fans a good excuse to extend the party through the weekend.