Petting a Deadly Friend

India never lacked snake charmers and nor did the small state of Kerala. They were in the nook and corner of the land with their unique wind instrument called Makuti and small bamboo boxes containing venomous and non-venomous snakes. 

Onlookers hold their breath when the snakes move in tune with the sound of the pipe of the snake charmers, locally known as paambatis. Though they are well aware that the snakes are de-fanged or removed of venom, it never ceases to amuse the people. This video shows Shamsuddin, a seventh generation snake charmer of Kerala, India coaxing his cobra to dance.