Hundreds of women gather every year at a temple in southern India to participate in a bizarre fertility ritual that sees some of them eating food from the floor with their hands behind their backs.

Footage captured on July 31 shows dozens of women kneeling down to eat food from the floor before proceeding with their prayers.

The rare ritual takes place in Paradise Sithar temple in Sethupetty, Tamil Nadu.

An eyewitness told Newsflare: ‘’The women believe if they eat with tied hands the food that was offered to the saints they have more chances of getting pregnant.’’

Every year during the month of August on the auspicious day of Adi Amavasai a large number of women gather at the Paradesi Sithar Temple in Sethupettu in Thiruvanamalai district to take part in the strange ritual of eating from the floor with tied hands.Childless couples perform this infertility ritual.

The women believe if they eat with tied hands the food that was offered to the saints they have more chances of getting pregnant.Every year on this day 1000's of women visits this temple to participate in this ritual.Special arrangements have been made by the district authorities for this temple ritual.