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 charming 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 in India is famous for snake charmers.
The Kalbelias were known for their frequent movement from one place to another in ancient times. Their main occupation is catching snakes and trading snake venom. Hence, the dance movements and the costumes of their community bear a resemblance to those of the serpents. They are also known as Sapera, Jogira, or Jogi. They follow the Hindu religion. They trace their ancestry to Kanlipar, the 12th disciple of Guru Gorakhnath.
Handling snakes or performing other potentially dangerous tricks, as well as other street performance staples like juggling and sleight of hand, are all part of a normal show.
