DHAKA: More than a million Rio Carnival revelers laid aside bitterness at Brazilian leaders to join wild festivities in what has been dubbed ‘the greatest show on Earth’.

Many participants said they had resolved to forget, at least until festivities end on Tuesday, about lingering protests over corruption and the cost of hosting the World Cup.

The Rio tourist board said 1.3 million people joined the fray to cavort as the Marvelous City’s oldest bloco or street party group Cordao da Bola Preta danced to a raucous samba beat.

A total of four million are accepted during the entire five-day event.

But there was a reminder of some of Brazil’s social problems as festivities in the northern city of Salvador were tainted by the fatal shooting of a young man, The Straits Times publishes the report on Sunday.

BDST: 1823 HRS, MAR 02, 2014