Thousands of devotees queued to offer snakes milk and peas during a Hindu festival in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

Footage from August 2 shows devotees pouring milk over cobras as well as dropping peas into the snake charmers' baskets.

The festival was held at a temple devoted to Vasuki, king of serpents in Hinduism and Buddhism.

Crowds of people are seen queuing for their chance to give offerings to the serpents.

This footage was filmed and produced 2 August 2022.

Today (August 2) is the main festival of Hindus - Nag Panchami. On this day people worship snakes. The footage was filmed in Nag Vasuki Temple. Here the idol in the form of a snake is installed, thousands of people come here to offer milk or peas for their worship. According to Hindu, the process of festivals starts from this day. Thousands of women and men line up outside the temple from this morning. They are waiting for their turn together with snake charmers from the snake charmer's settlement.

Interview translations:

1. Rajni Kesharwani, Devotee: "Today is the festival of Nagbansi, milk is offered here and on this day Lord Nag Vasuki resides here on the banks of the Ganges. A temple is located where special worship is done."

2. Priya Singh Yadav, Devotee: "There is a festival in the month of Sawan. From today the festival of Hindus begins. We worship Nagdev (God of Snake) with gram, peas, lava and milk."