A
snake charmer is one of wandering entertainers of Bangladesh. He is a man who
catches snakes and tames them. People believe that he charms the dangerous
snakes by his spells. So he is looked upon as a charmer. In almost all seasons,
especially
in the dry season, a snake charmer is found to roam about in the town or
village with two baskets. The basket remain suspended from two ends of a pole or are
placed on the head. He announces by shouts that he has big snakes like Python
and Cobra.
He is asked by the owner of a big house
to show them. He plays on a special type of flute and opens the lid of the
baskets. He wears a snake like a wreath round his neck or places it on the
ground. Men, women and children stand round in a circle in awe and
suspense and the snakes dance and play to the tune of the flute.
The snake charmer has wonderful
power to attract people. Men and children are amazed to see how easily he
handles the poisonous snakes. Sometimes the snakes are made to bite him with
a hissing sound. But he saves himself. Sometimes the snake really bites him and
blood comes out. He puts his magic drug on the bitten limb and it seems that
there is no effect of poison on him. Sometimes he touches the wound with a
magic wand, and lets the spectators know that he has no poison there. Then he
appeals for money. People throw paisa, four or eight anna bits or more inside
the circle. He earns his livelihood in this way. Women known as ‘Bedini’
are expert in snake-dancing. They sing songs composed on ‘Behula and Lakshindar’ and make snakes dance and play to the
tune to their songs. A snake charmer with his or her deadly snakes is a popular
but mysterious figure in Bangladesh.
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