Snake Charmers Village of Ghuradia, Bangladesh

 

Don't duck!

For those looking for a day trip out of Dhaka with a difference, Ghuradia is the place to go.  It’s only a few kilometres from Savar and offers beautiful rural scenery as well as the chance to watch a snake charmer work his magic on a deadly cobra or python.  Fees for the shows are highly negotiable – aim for aroun Tk 1,000 – and they last around 20 minutes.  The village of Ghuradia is inhabited by a number of Badhi river gypsies, who are believed to have magical powers as snake charmers and are frequently deployed to remove snakes from homes.  Although it is believed that the snakes used in the shows have been defanged, it would be wise to remain a safe distance at all times – no matter how tempted you may feel!  The ethics of snake charming are dubious, but it’s an ancient art nonetheless.  You decide…

 

Cobra
Snake charming
Dried snake skin in the crops - perhaps a scarecrow for snakes?
Too close? Never!

Comments

Sanna

Hi
I found your blog from a link on Wikipedia. I have recently moved to Bangladesh and I must say you take amazing pictures. I have borrowed two pics from you from your post on Bishwa Ijtema 2010. I have linked to you, and pls let me know if you want me to take them away.
//S

Reply
Jessica Mudditt

hey, no problem at all. your blog is beautiful and i’m pleased to have my pics on it!! hope you enjoy bangladesh. i’m back in melbourne visiting my family – i’m missing all the action already!! take care, jessica

Laisa Taga

Jessica
Bula vinaka. My name is Laisa Taga and I work for Islands Business magazine. We’re based in Suva, Fiji. We have just been awarded the tender to resurrect the Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ inflight magazine, to be renamed as Balaka. It is used to be Diganto. It has not been produced for several years now.
I accidentally stumbled on to your website and saw that you have written a number of stories on Bangladesh. Would you be interested in contributing to the inflight magazine?
I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards
Laisa

Reply
List of articles about Bangladesh « Jessica Mudditt's Blog

[…] 15. Snake Charmers Village of Ghuradia, Bangladesh, The Weekend Independent Magazine, December 2010 […]

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dr m ashraful kabir

not fun with poisonous snakes! its previous record is completely bad. always keep antivenom for different harmful snakes.

Reply
Tasin

Hello Jessica.Would you please tell me how to go to Ghuradia??
The pictures you have snapped are really amazing!
I hope that it would be a good journey..

Reply
Jessica Mudditt

Hi Tasin. i took a bus once and a friend had a driver the second time. it takes about two hours from Dhaka but it’s worth it – hope you make the journey 🙂 Jess

Tasin

Thanks Jessica 😊…
I am glad that you replied 😊. And yes I hope that I could make it. You’ll always be welcomed in Bangladesh.

Jessica Mudditt

Thanks Tasin 🙂 All the best to you!

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About The Author

Jessica Mudditt is an Australian freelance journalist whose articles have been published by The Economist, BBC, CNN, Marie Claire, GQ and Australian Geographic.

 

 

 

 

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