A devotee jumped into a six-foot-deep fire pit and threw hot coals into the air with his bare hands during a religious festival in India.

The startling incident occurred at Sulavai village in Bellary district, Karnataka state on September 14.

Shocked devotees shrieked in horror but were relieved to see him emerging out of the pit without any burn injuries.

A fire pit had been dug in front of a local mosque to observe the Islamic festival of Muharram. Suddenly, a man dressed in green leapt into the pit, threw hot coal in air and ran into the mosque.

An eyewitness Chanrashekar said: “People usually dance around the fire pit or pour salt into it as an offering.”

“The man jumped into it in extreme faith and luckily came out safely,” he added.