Members of a tribal community in Ranchi, India were filmed last week performing terrifying stunts with deadly snakes to appease a Hindu serpent goddess.

The remarkable footage, which was filmed on Friday, showed men placing cobras and other snakes in their mouths and even encouraging the reptiles to bite them.

"It is our tradition that by worshipping the snake goddess, we believe that the poisonous snakes won’t bite us," said one of the devotees.

Religious Hindus, especially in northern India, worship goddess Manasa mainly during the rainy season when snakes become more active.