The last snake charmers

An ancient Indian art form doesn't stand the test of time

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Ravi Nath poses for a photograph with a cobra snake.
(Image credit: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)
A snake charmer plays a gourd flute in front of cobras after the morning prayer at a temple in Jogi Dera (the snake charmers' settlement), in the village of Baghpur, India, on Nov. 10, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi)The Saperas were originally known as healers, one of the few clans able to handle deadly snakes and treat bites. Their unique skills lent them a considerable amount of re)

A snake charmer holds a cobra, which was caught in a house in a nearby village, in Jogi Dera.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

Children of snake charmers attend a class at their school in the village of Baghpur.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

Ravi Nath holds a cobra in Jogi Dera.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

A baby rests in a hammock as a cobra peeks out of a bag in Jogi Dera.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

A snake charmer sits on a road with his belongings after returning home from a month-long trip.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

A snake charmer cleans the eyes of his snake.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

The wife of a snake charmer stands outside her house in Jogi Dera.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

The daughter of a snake charmer plays with snakes after breakfast.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

A snake charmer's family prepares dinner outside their home in Jogi Dera.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Adnan Abidi))

Jackie Friedman
Jackie Friedman

Jackie Friedman is the assistant photo editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the photojournalism program at Kent State University and now lives in New York.