Hundreds of thousands of Indians celebrated the Nag Panchami snake festival on Friday (July 10th) by taking the streets and holding venomous serpents.

The festival involves worshipping the reptiles to negate bad karma.

Weeks before the festival, residents of Samastipur in Bihar state go snake-hunting.

Many species are captured including the venomous Indian cobra.

On the day of the festival, the snakes are displayed in huge processions.

The snakes are sprayed with turmeric and other spices and also offered milk.

Nag Panchami is Festival of snakes which is attended by hundreds of thousands of people all over the country in India.The festival involves worshipping the snake as god to supposedly negate bad karma.

In the town of Samastipur,two weeks before the festival, villagers go snake-hunting. All kinds of snakes are captured including the venomous Indian Cobra is tracked and captured.On the day of the festival, the snakes are displayed in huge processions.

The snakes are sprayed with Turmeric and Kumkum and bathed with and offered milk. 70 to 80 groups take part in the procession. The procession goes on for the whole day adding to the constant stress of being paraded with thousands of onlookers.