snake charming

Snake charming is the practice of appearing to hypnotize a snake (often a cobra) by playing and waving around an instrument called a pungi. 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. Snake charming is a traditional performance practice associated with several regions, including ancient Egypt, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. In ancient Egypt, serpents held symbolic and ritual significance in religious and magical contexts. Musical instruments such as the Ney (~c. 3000 BCE) and the Mizmar (~Antiquity / Medieval period) are part of long-standing musical traditions in the Middle East and North Africa. In South Asia, the practice has also b...