Carnival 2015, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Photos: Samba schools party in the Sambradome

Dancers on stilts, bare-chested cowboys, Carmelite nuns and plenty of bare flesh have flooded Rio's streets as revellers cranked up the volume at Brazil's intoxicating carnival festival, despite wet weather.

Hoards of residents and tourists cast aside their cares on Satu rday to drink from the joyous cup of carnival, considered the greatest show on Earth according to those who live in the "Marvellous City."

Millions of people were expected to take part in the street parade in Rio, an annual celebration since 1918.