A Chance Encounter with a Snake Charmer

I knew that there were snake charmers in the world.

I just didn’t expect to see one.  It happened at the most random time.  We had just come back from riding Lakshmi the elephant in Hampi and when we turned the corner to walk back to our hotel, we saw him.

There wasn’t much of a crowd watching him. We nearly walked right by.  Squatting in a lane way with three cobras, he played his flute made from a gourd as his snakes kept a close eye.  They were beautiful.  Sitting up in their baskets they were mesmerized by his flute.  It amazes me how snake charmers do it.  How they put the snakes in a trance and keep them steady.

I always thought that they probably drugged the snake but I have read that this is quite rare.  Snake charmers actually just know their snakes very well.  The snakes are in fact simply watching the charmer play his flute . They stand tall because that is their defensive position. They are ready to defend themeselves swaying not to the music, but to the movement of the flute.  They watch every move ready to strike.

The snake charmer sways with his flute and the cobras sway along with him waiting for the moment to attack.

It is quite incredible to witness.

I always feel bad for snakes though.  I think that they are a misunderstood creature. I can’t stand seeing an animal locked up, and snakes spend so many times coiled up in a small drawer that it breaks my heart. The black market is terrible to snakes and I wonder how well these snakes are treated.

One snake on the end tried to slink away slowly, but the charmer kept him hooked so he didn’t make it very far.

In a flash it was over.

Our Snake Charmer finished up quickly and put the lids back on the baskets.  It is crazy how a light woven lid can keep a Cobra from escaping, but it does.

He walked through the crowd and I handed him 50 Rs. He demanded 100, but I thought that over a dollar for a street performance was fair.  I always throw a loonie to a juggler in Toronto, so I thought that a buck was fine.

Although, maybe those snakes are expensive to care for. I questioned myself afterward. How do you know how much to give a street performer?

As soon as he got his money, he was packed up instantly and disappeared into the crowd.  I thought that I would see him around town the rest of the day, but I never saw him again.

What luck we had to spot the snake charmer at that moment.

A minute or two later and we never would have know he was there.

I have heard that some snake charmers have sewn snakes mouths shut or taken our their fangs but these snakes had their mouths wide open and the fangs were clearly attached.

They were absolutely beautiful creatures.  Three regal cobras stood tall and kept a keen eye on their charmer.  Three beautiful snakes spending their life in a basket.

I wonder if our charmer lets them out when they are not performing…Doubtful.

Here is a quick video that I shot of the snakes and their charmer in action.