Hundreds of devotees joined a frenzied chanting ceremony 'to ward off evil spirits' in Thailand.

The superstitious Buddhist believers gathered at the Wat Phai Chorakhe temple in Nakhon Pathom on July 9 to pay respects to Thao Wessuwan, a Thai deity said to offer protection from evil and bad luck.

Footage shows the participants wearing halo-like white string around their heads as they prayed and chanted at the temple. Some impassioned devotees were seen doing bizarre yoga poses, wailing and screaming as though possessed.

Monks then went around and doused the crowd with holy water.

The temple abbot Phra Kru Palad Prajak Thanapanyo said: 'The ceremony was organised for the first time to honour and pay respect to Thao Wessuwan.

'A significant number of believers made reservations for the tray set, which included items for the ceremony such as the Thao Wessuwan amulet, a bag, a talisman, and some flowers.

'The funds raised from this will be utilised for the construction of the vihara and the casting of a Buddha image.'

Some of the devotees also took home the white string tied to them during the ritual, believing it would bring them good luck.