STORY: Very special preparations in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday just before the upcoming kick-off of the world-famous carnival celebrations, which will officially start here in the Sambadrome on February 17th. The symbolic cleansing with holy water is intended to give the place positive energy. Eduardo Paes, Mayor of Rio de Janeiro: “It is a spiritual purification that symbolizes the strength of all faiths in Rio de Janeiro. Many aspects of the multiple faiths of Brazilian mixed culture are brought together. And it is the first post-pandemic carnival. And a moment of great joy for the city.” The festivities are scheduled to last until February 25th. The legendary Rio Carnival events are expected to attract tens of thousands of foreign tourists and could generate an estimated revenue of nearly $1 billion.