India is home to several deadly, poisonous snakes, including the cobra.

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India is home to several deadly, poisonous snakes, including the cobra. Death due to snakebite was the most common cause of death in India until recent times. Magical cure for snakebites is still practiced in remote areas of India. Hindus worship snakes in temples as well as in their natural habitats, offering them milk, incense, and prayers. India is also well known for snake charmers and rope-trick magicians. Snake charming is the practice of pretending to hypnotise a snake by playing an instrument called pungi or bansuri. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts, as well as other street performance staples, like juggling and sleight of hand. The practice is most common, probably originated in India. Hinduism has long held serpents to be sacred; the animals are believed to be related to the Nagas, and many gods are pictured with snakes, including Lord Shiva. Indians thus considered snake charmers to be holy men who were influenced by the Gods.

The earliest snake charmers were likely traditional healers by trade. As part of their training, they learned to treat snake bites. Many handled snakes, and people called on them to remove snakes from their homes. Governments promoted the practice to draw tourism, and snake charmers were often sent overseas to perform at cultural festivals. Despite a sort of golden age in the 20th century, snake charming is today in danger of dying out. This is due the recent enforcement of a 1972 law in India banning ownership of snakes. Many snake charmers live a wandering existence, visiting towns and villages on market days and during festivals. The charmer typically sits out of biting range and the snake is sluggish and reluctant to attack anyway. More drastic means of protection include removing the creature's fangs or venom glands, or even sewing the snake's mouth shut. The most popular species are those native to the snake charmer's home region, typically various kinds of cobras, though vipers and other types are also used. Although snakes are able to sense sound, they lack the outer ear that would enable them to hear the music. They follow the pungi that the "snake charmer" holds with their hands. The snake considers the person and pungi a threat and responds to it as if it were a predator. 🐍🎺🎶🐍
Sankat Rahe Na Bhay ~ Sada Raho Nirbhay ~ Bum Bum Bhole!!