Nagpanchami brings back business to snake charmers

Varanasi, July 30 (UNI) The festival of Nagpanchami today ended the business drought for snake charmers, besides powering back the grapplers to ancient 'Akharas' dotting this religious city.

A large number of snake charmers who are slowly becoming 'jobless' due to stringent wildlife laws and modern entertainment mediums, resurfaced to regale the commoners with the choicest of snake dances.

''At a time when the people want both monkey and man to perform acrobatics alike, our innocuous snakes have slowly lost their sheen among the snaking alleys of the city, once famous for enthusiastic fairs and festivals,'' said Janardan, a 70-year-old snake charmer from neighbouring Jaunpur district.

''I have to borrow money from others to be able to travel to Varanasi on this auspicious day, which perhaps is the only occasion in the year when our skills fetch their monetary worth,'' he added.

A thirty year-younger snake charmer Rajesh said that the majority of snake charmers had left this age old profession, which was slowly becoming a burden. ''If we cannot feed our families with this dangerous skill, what is the use of pursuing it only for Nagpanchami day,'' he lamented.

''The festivals and fairs are all dwindling in this city once world famous for them. People do not want to relish snake dance, but instead fiddle with the popular snake game on their cellular phones,'' he maintained.

The festival also saw the snake-charmers revisting the age-old tradition of Mahuvar, - the dangerous war of 'mantras' between snake charmers. The slowly fading practice was organised only at a few places in the city, including Chowk and Sanatan Dharma Inter College.

While the festival, when snakes are offered milk, brought back some business to the snake charmers, it also triggered enthusiasm at the now sedate 'Akharas' (wrestling grounds) dotting the city.

Competitions of 'Dangal' and 'Jodi Phero' were organised at the very few Akharas still breathing in the crowded city space, including Ram Singh Akhara at Bada Deo, Ram Kund Akhara at Luxa and those at Tulsi Ghat and Meer Ghat.

''While the grapplers now prefer mats for the sacred soil of Akharas, the muscle-builders are flooding the modern gymnasiums to pump iron,'' said Bhima, a veteran wrestler from the riverine Meer Ghat Akhara.

UNI ARS MB PB RK1410