Frantic villagers clamoured for free food handed out from a tent by Good Samaritans.

Footage shows locals tussling with each other, racing each other to take rice grains packed in plastic bags to celebrate Buddhist Lent season in Sisaket province, Thailand, on August 31.

Some of the more greedy attendees took as many as four bags, leaving none for the others queueing behind the line. The bags will then be given to monks doing retreats in temples.

Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country, and Buddhism teaches generosity as one of its core values. The followers commonly practice it by giving to monks or the needy.

Buddhist Lent, also known as Vassa or Rains Retreat, is a three-month period of intensified meditation and study for Buddhist monks and nuns.