While other one-year-olds are just learning to walk and talk, the children of the Kalbelia tribe are introduced to the centuries-old art of snake charm. All the children of the Kalbelia tribe come face-to-face with a poisonous cobra at age two. They treat them as their siblings.
Snake charm is the practice of pretending to hypnotize a snake by playing an instrument. 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 in India. The Kalbelia tribe of India is well-known for its snake charm.
