Hundreds of Buddhist devotees participated in a bizarre religious ceremony where they played dead to ward off bad luck.

More than 200 locals gathered at the Buddhist Development Institute in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, to take part in the spooky ritual on May 27.

Footage shows rows of white coffins donated by villagers lining the venue. Inside each casket was a pillow, a white cloth, a lotus flower, and a set of robes to be offered to monks leading prayers.

After completing the opening chant, the attendees lay inside their designated caskets and arranged the white cloth-like blankets as if tucking themselves into bed.

They resembled corpses entering a crematorium as white sacred thread was wrapped around their clasped hands holding the lotus flower.

Once the prayers have concluded, they 'rise from the grave' and offer the set of robes to the monks.

Residents paid 100 THB (3 USD) each to take part in the ritual, believing it shook off bad luck by simulating death and rebirth.

Devotee Mana Chaiyasri, 46, said: 'I think this ceremony helps clear one's mind because it symbolises the purification of negative karma in the present life. By being reborn, we are given a chance for a better future.'

He added that he had attended several death-mimicking ceremonies before, but this was the most realistic because of the holy thread used for cadavers tied around him.

He said: 'I was scared at first, but I overcame my fear because I knew then ritual would be good for my mind and soul.'

Buddhist communities across Asia - including Thailand, Japan, Tibet, and China - are said to practice similar rites faking death, with the ceremonies varying for each region.