Hindu priests celebrating a major festival in north India performed a strange ritual of allowing they heads to touch an open fire to be 'purified'.

The "agni pariksha" is a ritual performed using fire by the priests celebrating Govardhan Puja, filmed here on January 17, in Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

A priest can be seen being lowered head-first into the "Hawan Kund", or fire pot, with his head touching the lit fire. He is then hauled out and stood up, where he seemed briefly dazed before recovering and splashing his face with boiling milk.

Two children are then seen putting their hands inside some boiling milk but seem to suffer no injuries or reaction on their skin due to it.

Agni pariksha, is a ritual performed using fire by the priests in the celebration of Govardhan Puja in northern India.

The visuals were captured on 17 January in Jaunpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

Visuals show the priest perform the ritual by bowing down into the Hawan Kund with his head touching the fire. And two other kids also put their hands inside the boiling milk but are seen to have no injuries or reaction on their skin due to it.

There are a large number of people gathered to witness this pooja.

According to reports, this ritual is performed on the eve of Govardhan Puja, an Indian festival.

It is celebrated by the Hindus wherein they prepare and offer a wide variety of vegetarian delicacies to the idols to express their gratitude.

This heap of food, which metaphorically represents the Govardhan Hill, to god as a ritual remembrance and to renew their faith in taking refuge in god.