The Disappearing Future of Snake Charming in India

Photo: RussBowling

No matter how carefully snakes are looked after, the life of a snake charmer is often considered to be at risk. However, most snake charmers keep themselves at a safe distance from their snakes, which are often kept sedate. To many, the practice of training snakes away from their natural surroundings is quite unsuitable. But of course watching a snake charmer at work who has enticed cobras and vipers to dance to the music of flutes is quite amusing for others.

Photo: Rajibnandi

Snake charmers keep various poisonous snakes caught in the wild as their pets. It is the only option most of these people have for feeding their families. But even though some of them know there is a chance they could get bitten, many snake charmers actually catch snakes like cobras and remove their fangs and venom glands.

In India, one can easily find a snake charmer in the markets, performing on the streets. The exotic sight of a mystic man with a basket across his shoulder has been a centuries old image of India. Petting deadly snakes has been the family business of snake charmers for hundreds of years, and it continues today – even though it has been banned on grounds of animal cruelty.

How do snake charmers make the snakes perform by playing the flute? It is a myth that the snakes can actually dance to the music. The truth is that they cannot hear it. They don’t really move to the tune but rather can sense the vibration and follow the movements of their master.

Photo: thejaspStatue of Lord Shiva with a snake around his neck

Photo: Liz HighleymanLord Vishnu resting on coiled up snake, named Sheshnag (India)

For thousands of years, people have both feared and respected snakes. In ancient Greece, snakes were a symbol of healing and wisdom. And in India, people built temples to honor certain snakes and worship them as gods. Even today, people often bring springs of flowers and food items such as milk and honey for the snake god.

Photo: MikolFamily of a snake charmer

The government of India banned snake charming in 1991. Since then snake charmers have been struggling for survival. In Feb 2009, thousands of snake charmers gathered together. They held a protest, demanding that the government allow them to keep their profession alive, as it is their only means of support. Even though they have been keeping snakes as pets for generations, today petting a snake for a living is considered as being against wildlife protection laws.

Though the end of this practice is also the loss of an ancient tradition, the government of India is still trying to rehabilitate snake charmers in certain villages as well as allowing snake charmers to perform on selected occasions. This practice has been the profession of snake charmers for many generations and they are not likely to lose it without a struggle.

Sources: 1, 2