Snake charming is an ancient form of art, which has been around for thousands of years, mostly in Asia and North Africa. The earliest evidence for snake charming comes from ancient Egyptian sources, where Charmers acted as magicians and healers. The act in itself involves a charmer, who appears to hypnotize a snake, often a cobra, within a basket. The charmer plays a musical instrument called pungi and makes the snake dance and sway to the music. Before a show, the snakes are brushed and cleaned and the charmer settles down at a spot with high pedestrian traffic. Many charmers live a wandering existence, visiting different towns and villages on market days and during festivals. Despite its high popularity during the 1900’s, today snake charming is gradually vanishing.