If Rio can claim the most beautiful carnival of Brazil, Salvador de Bahia (my trip -salvador-de-bahia) , in Nordeste, is undoubtedly the most vivacious and the most mixed.
During these magical days of carnival in Brazil, several million people gather in the streets to dance, have fun and admire the parades proudly recalling the links of the city with Africa.
A “folia” that engulfs all Salvador de Bahia
Renowned for their sense of celebration, the Bahians make the preparation and celebration of carnival a very important time in the beginning of the year: the folia (frolicking) lasts continuously from January to March!
The festivities during the carnival in Salvador take place only in the street and are extremely popular. They are organized around “bloco” parades: people in costume grouped by neighborhood, and trios elétricos, (truck-mounted stages/floats equipped with deafening loudspeakers). Three main routes allow them to travel all over the city. The Pelourinho circuit for example, (also called Batatinha ), a spectacular and overwhelming experience.
Carnival in Salvador – A carnival with affirmed African roots
One of Brazil’s most ethnically mixed cities, Salvador de Bahia pays homage to its African identity through the carnival. Samba-reggae and axé, whose frantic rhythms are interpreted on traditional percussions such as atabaque and repinique, are symbolic of Bahian culture.
Peace and fraternity are also emphasized, especially during the parade of several thousand practitioners of Candomblé, clad in shades of white and blue. Candomblé is a religion mixing Catholicism and African rites, whose followers lead the famous procession Filhos de Gandhy.
A record crowd for the pre-Lenten holidays!
The incredible gathering of Bahian inhabitants for the carnival gained Salvador de Bahia a place in the “Book of Records” as the host city of the largest street party in the world.
Bearing in mind, this is one million visitors, on top of the two million participants living in Salvador, who all flock to the winding streets of Pelourinho behind the blocos and on the avenue by the sea to enjoy the “Trio electricos” where the stars play. The most famous of which play Axé, Ivue Sangalo or Chiclete com Banana for example.
