British Empire Exhibition - Madras snake charmer
British Empire Exhibition - Madras snake charmer
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British Empire Exhibition - Madras snake charmer
SC_PHL_CL_02_E1338 (Collage 301746)
London Metropolitan Archives: George W F Ellis Collection
Photograph from the British Empire Exhibition of snake charmer ‘hypnotising’ a snake. The performer was from Madras, India – now known as Chennai – and is playing a pungi, often used to entertain the public with snake charming. The performer is in a room decorated with patterned wallpaper and an ornate fireplace.

Snake charming was banned throughout India in 1991, under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Snake-charmer performances still happen in other Asian nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia.
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