This is the terrifying moment a venomous snake appeared in a river as women held a religious ritual in India.

Footage shows a fearless worshipper in the water being approached by a banded krait during the Chhath Puja in Bihar.

The devotee was offering prayers to the Sun God when the serpent suddenly appeared.

Spectators praised the woman's courage and deep faith, believing her safety was due to the protection of Chhathi Maiya, the deity worshipped during the festival.

Chhath Puja, an important Hindu festival in parts of India, honours Lord Surya and Chhathi Maiya. Devotees seek blessings for health, prosperity, and harmony.

The festival is celebrated six days after Diwali, particularly in the northern states of Bihar, Jharkhand, East Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

The banded krait is one of the largest kraits found in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Its bite can be deadly to humans and is said to have several times more venomous than the cobra.