Living a charmed life... Two-yearold Indian plays with cobras
Two-year-old Sumit is encouraged by his family to play with cobras, nonchalantly wrapping them around his neck, as they expect him to continue the family tradition Since the late 1990s, when the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) was implemented, members of the nomadic Bedia community have seen their meagre finances dwindle. The Act bars people from using wild animals commercially or turning them into pets, and bans performances with live snakes
These pictures will shock many British parents. They show the dying tradition of snake charming in rural India.
For centuries, the charmers have enjoyed a celebrated place in the country’s history.
The hypnotic tunes they played to enchant snakes to dance have captured the imagination of Indians, but people around the world.
But now, the industry is fighting for its survival amid stringent wildlife protection laws. Wearing a colourful turban, Budh Nath, 65, is training his young grandson to perfect the ancient art -despite the fact it is illegal and he could be jailed if caught. The family, which lives in Faridabad, an hour’s drive from Delhi, claim they used to make a good living and were respected as highly skilled performers.
Since the late 1990s, when the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) was implemented, members of the nomadic Bedia community have seen their meagre finances dwindle.
The Act bars people from using wild animals commercially or turning them into pets, and bans performances with live snakes.
The Bedia community have no other source of income. Two-year-old Sumit is encouraged by his family to play with cobras, nonchalantly wrapping them around his neck, as they expect him to continue the family tradition.
Snake charmers, once a symbol of the mystical Indian culture, have all but disappeared. ‘For thousands of years we have earned our living by entertaining people with snakes but now we are left penniless,’ said Budh Nath.
‘Earlier, we used to roam from village to village and do our shows, but now if the police see us performing they take us to jail.’