Notting Hill Carnival stages and music fell silent as the crowds and performers paid tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The party atmosphere came to a halt at 3pm on Monday as silence rang out across the west London streets for 72 seconds – one for each person killed in the blaze.
It was broken with cheers, whistles and the booming voice of the late Aretha Franklin singing Respect.
Around a million people were expected to join the annual event, held on Sunday and Monday, which celebrates Caribbean culture.
Brightly coloured costumes adorned with sparkle, punchy street food and high-tempo music returned for the Carnival's 59th year.
One Twitter user wrote: "I love Carnival so much. London at its best."
Another wrote: "Carnival was amazing! I love my culture so much and very proud of it.
"As I lay in my bed recovering from a very long weekend I can't help but smile, two days a year I get to see my people free with no inhibitions no attitudes just enjoying themselves."
1:14Police said they made 133 arrests and recovered 16 knives during the first day of the carnival.
Forty-two people were detained on drugs offences, 20 on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and seven on public order offences.
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For the first time ever, metal-detecting "knife arches" were erected at locations around the Carnival.
The Metropolitan Police said these were a "tried-and-tested method of deterring people from carrying knives, as well as detecting those who choose to do so".
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