The Plight of the Snake Charmers

Once upon a time snake charmers were one of the most-seen entertainers in the public spaces of urban Bangladesh. They could be seen carrying round shaped baskets where some highly venomous snakes were kept carefully. By playing hypnotising music with their interesting looking flute called been or pungi, they used to attract their customers. With a long flute in their hand they used to make the cobras dance by extending their hoods.

However, at present snake charmers are passing days in misery. Due to deforestation and rapid urbanisation, snakes have retreated to the remote forests. On the other hand, the busy city dwellers have hardly any spare time to enjoy this traditional performance any more. Animal rights activists have also drawn attention regarding the abuse of many endangered species of snakes by these snake charmers.

As a result, losing their ancestral profession, many snake charmers are often seen extorting money from people flaunting their snakes on the streets of Dhaka. Back in 2003, hundreds and thousands of snake charmers gathered at the historic temple Charkhi Dadri of India, to draw international attention towards their plight. In India a limited number of snake charmers have been permitted by the government to practice their age-old profession.

In Bangladesh, these snake charmers are typically the members of the riverside nomadic groups called Bede. As these Bedes are also settling in different slums in the metropolitan cities leaving their nomadic culture behind, snake charmers are also leaving their ancestral profession. As a result, these days they are hardly seen on the streets with a long flute in their hands, playing for their dangerous looking snakes.