Solid Planet: 08/01/2011

Umbanda worshippers perform rituals in Brazil

Umbanda, an Afro-Brazilian religion that combines African religions with Catholicism and local indigenous beliefs, uses rituals to induce trances in worshippers who "incorporate" the spirits of slaves born in Africa and buried in Brazil.

Although some of its beliefs and most of its practices existed in the late 19th century in almost all Brazil, it is assumed that Umbanda originated in Rio de Janeiro and surrounding areas in the early 20th century, mainly due to the work of a psychic (medium), Zélio Fernandino de Moraes, who practiced Umbanda among the poor Afro-Brazilian population. Since then, Umbanda has spread across mainly southern Brazil and even to neighboring countries like Uruguay and Argentina.

Picture taken August 26, 2011. REUTERS/Nacho Doce

London's Notting Hill Carnival

The Notting Hill Carnival is an annual event which since 1964 has taken place on the streets of Notting Hill, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea , London, UK each August, over two days (the August bank holiday Monday and the day beforehand). It is led by members of the West Indian community, particularly the Trinidadian and Tobagonian British population or 'Trinis', many of whom have lived in the area since the 1950s. The carnival has attracted up to 2 million people in the past.

The carnival, Europe's largest street festival, began successfully with few problems reported on Sunday (August 28 2011). The festival closed before dark this year to discourage any repetition of the arson and looting which erupted in London and other cities earlier in the month. Metropolitan Police described the opening day of the two-day festival as peaceful, and reported only 33 arrests, including six for assault and one for an offensive weapon.