El encantamiento de serpientes es una práctica que aparenta hipnotizar a una serpiente tocando un instrumento llamado pungi. Un espectáculo típico puede incluir también el manejo de las serpientes o la realización de otros actos aparentemente peligrosos, así como otras actuaciones, como malabares y juegos de manos. La práctica es más común en la India, aunque otros países asiáticos como Pakistán, Bangladés, Sri Lanka, Tailandia y Malasia también son comunes este tipo de artistas, al igual que los países del norte de África como Egipto, Marruecos y Túnez. Muchos encantadores de serpientes viven una existencia errante, visitando ciudades y pueblos en los días de mercado y en las fiestas. Por un lado, el encantador normalmente se encuentra fuera del rango de posible mordedura, aunque su animal es lento y reacio a atacar de todos modos. Medios más drásticos de protección incluyen la eliminación de los colmillos de la criatura o glándulas de veneno, o incluso coser la boca de la serpiente. Las especies más populares son las nativas de la región de origen del encantador de serpientes, por lo general varios tipos de cobras, aunque también se utilizan víboras y otros tipos.

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Snake charming is the practice of pretending to hypnotize a snake by playing an instrument called pungi or bansuri. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts, as well as other street performance staples, like juggling and sleight of hand. The practice is most common in India, though other Asian nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia are also home to performers, as are the North African countries of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Ancient Egypt was home to one form of snake charming, though the practice as it exists today likely arose in India. It eventually spread throughout Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Despite a sort of golden age in the 20th century, snake charming is today in danger of dying out. This is due to a variety of factors, chief among them the recent enforcement of a 1972 law in India banning ownership of snakes. In retaliation, snake charmers have organized in recent years, protesting the loss of their only means of livelihood, and the government has made some overtures to them. Many snake charmers live a wandering existence, visiting towns and villages on market days and during festivals. With a few rare exceptions they make every effort to keep themselves from harm's way. The charmer typically sits out of biting range and the snake is sluggish and reluctant to attack anyway. More drastic means of protection include removing the creature's fangs or venom glands, or even sewing the snake's mouth shut. The most popular species are those native to the snake charmer's home region, typically various kinds of cobras, though vipers and other types are also used. Although snakes are able to sense sound, they lack the outer ear that would enable them to hear the music. They follow the pungi that the "snake charmer" holds with their hands. The snake considers the person and pungi a threat and responds to it as if it were a predator.

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