Brazil 'mud street party'

cantly-dressed revellers got down and dirty as they danced, wrestled and partied at a mud carnival.

The partygoers celebrated at the 'Bloco da Lama', in Paraty, Brazil, on Saturday.

Hundreds of attendees wrestled, tackled each other and threw chunks of gunk while shaking it to samba and reggaeton at 

a Carnival beach party where clothes were optional but the mud was not.

They were covered from head to toe in the dirt, with some even getting their faces painted with it.  

The festival started in 1986 by teenagers playing with mud and became a traditional event at the historical city of Paraty.

Some of the attendees wore costumes and masks as they swam in mud pools and threw dirt at each other.

One reveller can be seen in a pirate hat with a skeleton mask, while another dawns a floral mask and leafy hat.

Getting down and dirty! Scantly-dressed revellers partied at the mud festival 'Bloco da Lama', in Paraty, Brazil, on Friday

Mudbath! Four women immersed their whole bodies in mud as they lay flat on their backs in mucky water

One partygoer wore a pirate hat with a skeleton mask which added to the mystery of the unusual festival

Slather it on! one giddy attendee got her face painted in mud before splashing around in the mud pools with friends

Filthy fun! Men and women of all ages got in on the action and partied. one reveller was head-to-toe in mud as he danced with his arms in the air

That's just horseplay! Some children included a horse in the festivities and lathered it in mud as they partied in Brazil

Mud makeover: one woman was so relaxed in a pool of dirt that she fell asleep

Batman and boggin': one young boy dawned a super mask made out of mud

The costumes, which aimed to celebrate nature, were highly creative yet subtly simplistic 

One woman had a home-made tiara made out of leaves and a butterfly mask to keep the muck from getting in her eyes

Sealed with a kiss: Revellers didn't let the sludge get in the way of their romance

Dive in! one woman wearing a princess tiara lay back in the sludge and locked hands with fellow partygoers

They threw chunks of gunk at each other as they splashed around in the water

Mud love: A pet dog gets in on the action too as it's seen covered in the sludge playing with the ravers

Weird but wonderful: A woman in fancy dress takes a breather from the madness to soak in the atmosphere

At the festival clothes were optional but the mud was not

Costumes were a mainstay as tourists celebrated nature

Quicksand! one curious pup sticks his head in the mud

Come here and give me a hug! one man who somehow managed to stay clean was teased by a woman who had been at the mud party

Children and animals alike got drenched in the sludge

Soak it up! The fearless men and women had no problem getting covered in mud as they partied in the water

One young boy sported an unusual mask appeared to be made of a single giant leaf

Mud manoeuvres: Groups of women danced around covered in mud. 

One of the attendees had her mobile phone in her hand... but appeared to keep it relatively clean