News Excerpt:

Artists from Rajasthan perform the ‘Kalbelia’ dance during the National Culture Festival under the auspices of the Union Ministry of Culture in Hyderabad.

More about the Kalbelia dance:

• Kalbelia dance is a folk dance of the state of Rajasthan. 
• It is also known by other names, such as 'Sapera Dance' or 'Snake Charmer Dance'.
• The dance is particularly performed by a Rajasthani tribe called 'Kalbelia'.
• Once professional snake charmers, Kalbelia today evoke their former occupation in music and dance that is evolving in new and creative ways.
• Kalbelia was inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
• In Kalbelia dance, males play various traditional instruments, and females dance. 
• Kalbelia dance is one of the most sensuous dances among all Rajasthani dances.
• Women in flowing black skirts dance and swirl, replicating the movements of a serpent.
• Men accompany the women on the Khanjari percussion instrument and the Pungi, a woodwind instrument traditionally played to capture snakes.
• The dancers wear traditional tattoo designs, jewellery, and garments richly embroidered with small mirrors and silver threads.