Snake Charmers: A Charming Tale

Priyanka Rout

Snake Charmers: A Charming Tale

Fascinated by the twisted idea of hypnotizing the slithering creatures, the mysterious art of snake charming has fascinated people for centuries. With its rare fusion of charm, music, and danger, the profession of snake charming has innumerable secrets hiding underneath its skin.

Snake Charmers. Illustrated by Anupama: Visual Storyteller at ThisDay

People worldwide speak about the culture and diversity of the country, and not to forget, Bollywood and Biriyani is perhaps the second-most discussed thing about India. For quite a long time, India was perceived as the land of snake charmers by the outsiders. Some people still hold this biased opinion, but with the incredible increase in tourism and travel, the Indian diaspora is getting highlighted, and people are slowly changing their perceptions.

Those beautiful tunes charm the most dangerous creatures on earth by making them twist and turn. However, we can't deny that snake charmers have intrigued us for centuries. A history unknown, a profession unseen, these snake charmers have a lot of secrets that stay well-hidden under their sleeves. Let's unveil them one by one.

Since time immemorial, serpents have been an integral part and parcel of various cultures and religions. However, the earliest evidence of snake charmers can be found in Ancient Egyptian sources, wherein the snake charmers were no less than magicians and healers. These charmers had multiple professions- they studied various species of snakes and the deities to which they were linked and their medicinal properties. These snake charmers could charm these slithering creatures to impress their patrons.

It is a big mystery whether the snakes can hear the sounds of the flute. According to scientists, snakes cannot attend to the sound produced by pungi due to the absence of external ears. However, they can move rhythmically according to the tune since they can feel the vibrations produced by the instrument. It is also said that the snakes try to follow the hand movements of the charmers while they play the instrument.

Though we might perceive their movement as dance, it is a natural reaction of fear triggered by the snake charmers' movements.

Some specific tunes entice the snake. Ragas, like Punnagavarali, is a sequence of notes which are closely connected to the snakes and their world. The word Punnagavarali contains 'naga,' which means snake in Sanskrit. If a person plays Punnagavarali, either at dusk or late at night, all the snakes near their house will gather at one particular place.

Snake charming is an inherited profession, and most of the people involved in this profession learn this skill from their forefathers. Tribes like Sapera and Sapuakela are famous for snake charming and don't have much choice in opting for any other profession. They are rumored to be magicians, making potions that can cure a common cold and wake the dead people.

The next time you visit a snake charmer, do notice these intricate details. Wavy hair, a white turban, metal earrings, and shell or bead necklaces adorn the bodies of snake charmers. After selecting a good location, the performer sets his pots and baskets about him and settles cross-legged before a closed jar or basket. He removes the lid and plays a been or pungi, a gourd-based flute-like instrument. If it's a cobra, it may extend its hood as it slowly comes from the container, as if enticed by the music. Perhaps this is the unexplored magic of a snake charmer.

India is where the profession of snake charming was first said to have originated. Hinduism considers serpents sacred, and deities are portrayed as under the cobra's protection. Thus, Indians believe that snake charmers are of a divine origin and are influenced by the gods.

The earliest snake charmers were traditional healers. Due to their expertise in handling the snakes, they were often called to eliminate snakes from homes. It is said that a saint named Baba Gulabgir became the Guru of these snake charmers and taught them to revere the snakes rather than fear them. Ultimately, these teachings of Baba spread across areas like North Africa and Southeast Asia.

One of the most exceptional instruments used by these snake charmers is called pungi or magudi. This instrument is polyphonic and consists of two reed pipes with a bottle gourd. The bottle gourd stores the air blown into it by the musician.