Sapua Kela

Abstract

The study of the Snake Charmers (A section of the Kela community known as Sapua Kela was considered necessary in order to formulate suitable developmental programmes for their upliftment. In a short visit to the Kela settlement at Padmakesharipur situated at a distance of about 12 Kms. from the State Capital, Bhubaneswar it was found inhabited by a large population of about 916 persons all belonging to the Sapua Kela community. This is the single most populous settlement in Odisha where 265 Sapua Kela households live off from a big heterogeneous village called Patia. The Sapua Kelas identify themselves not by the name of their own settlement but by the name of their revenue village Patia and therefore in the public they are known as Patia Kela. The semi-nomadic Sapua Kelas eke out their living primarily by snake charming, jugglery and begging. They are known for their skill in the risky job of snake catching and snake charming and for certain peculiar customs like, inbreeding or intra kin-marriage, frequent change of spouses and dominance of women in domestic and village affairs. Their religion is primarily concerned with the worship of Goddess Durga in her various incarnations and the ancestor-spirits. Their caste council which is very democratic in formation as well as in function is still very powerful in maintaining identity and group cohesiveness and at the same time in bringing reforms and changes for better living. They seem to be inclined to shift from wandering life to settled life and are struggling hard to acquire assets in the form of houses, land and cattle and also to get themselves absorbed in stationery governmental and not-governmental jobs. The materials presented in this book were collected during several visits in the year 1983. The aim in this book had been to given an overall picture various aspects of their life which may change very fast because of their inclination towards settled life. As this book is likely to be used by general intelligent public we have tried to keep our presentation fairly in a popular style. This small monograph is expected to remove a long-left need for a first hand ethnography of this wandering group. It also gives an insight into various changes occurring different aspects of their life and their adjustment with the new environment.