|
 The
exotic sight of enticing snakes to dance to the soulful music of gourd
flutes has long captured the imagination of visitors to India. The
dexterity with which the charmers handle highly poisonous snakes such as
cobras and vipers during street-side performances have
always been fascinating.
But what once was a symbol of Indian culture, is slowly fading away.
Snake charmers today have largely dwindled in number due to very strict
wildlife protection laws prohibiting the ownership of snakes as pets.
 Many
of the snake charmer caste or saperas have since
gone underground with their craft so it is important for the visitor to
ask around to find out where the occasional street performances still
take place.
Visitors may want to check out a site near the Jhandewalan
crematorium in central Delhi where snake charmers have traditionally
gathered.
Snake charmers are in the low rung of the Hindu caste system that
defines India’s social structure but they are highly respected for their
ability to tame snakes, which are worshipped by many Hindus.
During the annual Snake Festival Hindus often visit the charmers’ homes
to offer prayers for the snakes.
It is estimated that there are some 200,000 people of the sapera caste
in villages all over India.
How they do it
 Snake
charmers are known to be experts in catching snakes, other than through
street performances this is where they get their main source of living;
catching snakes from farmer’s fields.
The captured cobras or vipers are then placed in cloth covered baskets,
which are in turn hung from bamboo poles slung across the snake charmers
shoulders as he walks the city streets looking for places to do a show.
Armed with handcrafted flutes, drums and colorful headdresses, a snake
charmer usually rouses a snake by playing a long flute-like instrument
in front of it. During times when the snake charmers travel in groups,
instruments like the pungi (an instrument with two reeds)
and the dholak (a percussion instrument with animal skins
covering both ends), are also used to coax the cobra out of its basket.
 The
snake appears to dance in response to the music. But according to
herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians),
snakes are unable to hear sounds in the same frequency band as humans.
So, they say that what is perceived as a choreographed dance to the
music is actually the snake reacting to the movement of the instrument.
Traditional Hindus however still maintain that snake charming is an act
of wonder and mysticism. Whether or not the scientific or mystic
explanations hold true, the chance to see this snake charmers in action
should not be missed by anyone visiting India.
|
