Snake charming involves hypnotising a snake by simply playing an instrument. A typical performance may also include handling the snake, acrobats and juggling. The snake charmers evolved from being healers who during their training learned to treat snakebite. Many also learned proper snake handling techniques, and people called on them to remove from their homes. Snake charmers identify themselves as disciples of the great guru gorakh nath. Therefore they add "nath" after their name. Snakes are like their family members. They keep crawling all around their homes. Saregama presents the wonders of the snake charmers in its edition discover of india.
The early 20th century proved something of a golden age for snake charmers. Governments promoted the practice to draw tourism, and snake charmers were often sent overseas to perform at cultural festivals and for private patrons. In addition t the charmers provided a valuable source of snake venom for creating antivenins. Snake charmers today are struggling for survival as victims, they say, of stringent wildlife protection laws and the advent of cable television.
Snake charmers typically walk the streets holding their serpents tn baskets or pots hanging from a bamboo pole slung over the shoulder. Charmers cover these containers with cloths between performances. Snake charmers usually dress in a white turban, earrings, and necklaces of shells or beads. Once the performer finds a satisfactory location to set up, he sets his pots and baskets about him in front of a closed pot or basket. He removes the lid, then begins playing a flute-like instrument made from a gourd, known as a been or pungi. As if drawn by the tune, a snake eventually emerges from the container: if a cobra, it may even extend its hood. The reptile then begins swaying to and fro m time with the musician`s tune, apparently hypnotised. The snake never strikes, and the charmer may go as far as kissing the creature on the head. Amazed onlookers throw coins and bills to the successful performer. Eventually, as if on cue, the snake returns to its container, the charmer replaces the lid, and he gathers up his earnings. Alternatively, the charmer may handle his animals, daring his audience to touch them. Almost no one does. Once he has earned all he can from his current viewers, he moves on to perform somewhere else.
"pungi" or "been" is the snake charmer`s instrument. The word "pungi" is a generic term for many reeded musical instruments. The term "been" is really a misnomer. The word "been" is a typical east indian corruption of "veena". The pungi is typically one to two feet in length. It consists of two reeds or bamboo tubes. One of which is for the melody and the other is for the drone. These are attached to a larger cavity made of gourd or coconut. Inside of which are two reeds. These reeds vibrate when air is passed over them. The body of snake charmers flute is made from a gourd, which is somewhat pear, shaped. Many indian musical instruments, particularly the string instruments are made from gourds. It makes a nice decorative conversation piece when not being played.
