A woman was tied to a 60-feet pole and lifted into the air as part of a banned religious ceremony in south India.

The woman, Avvamma, from Hirolli village near Aland, Karnataka, had volunteered on February 22 to perform "Sidi", a religious practice that has been banned under Indian law as dangerous and superstitious.

Avvamma was tied to the pole with the help of belts and lifted up slowly, she spent nearly 30 minutes hanging from the pole dangerously while showering flowers onto passersby.

Eyewitnesses claimed Avvamma wanted to please a local goddess named Bhagamma to get her wishes fulfilled.