(9 Feb 2015) 'BAIANAS' DANCE TO CLEANSE BRAZIL'S SAMBADROME
Followers of the Umbanda and Candomble Afro-Brazilian religions, also known as "baianas", danced in the Sambadrome in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday (8 FEB 2015).
Dressed in their white dresses and wearing turbans, the 'baianas' blessed the iconic Sambadrome in a cleansing ritual ahead of the Brazil Carnival.
Carrying a giant figure of Pai de Santo, considered an ancestral spirit in the Umbanda and Candomble religions, baianas from all samba schools and different neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro, attended Sunday's ritual.
"The baianas clean the avenue with brooms made with herbs, with perfumed water and different herbs, that's made by the 'mai de santo' of every neighbourhood," explained Jose Dos Santos, director of the Samba Schools league.
Members of other religious denominations also participated in the ceremony.
Thousands of people who could not afford the tickets to see the main parades, also packed the Sambodrome to see the samba school "Unidos da Tijuca", which came first among the schools of the first league last year.
Like football, the samba schools are divided into first, second and third leagues, depending on their performance.
The schools are associations or social clubs representing the neighbourhoods of Rio de Janeiro.
This was the last rehearsal for the schools that will parade at this year's carnival.
The 2015 Carnival of Rio de Janeiro starts on 13 February and runs until 17 February.
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