BALASORE: As drums beat and dancers swayed under lights, few expected a twist that would turn a village wedding into a wildlife crime scene. On a Wednesday night in Chhedak village under Bansada panchayat of Bhadrak district, a groom’s procession turned from festive to alarming when live cobras were brought to the dance floor.
Amid blaring music and cheering guests, two snake charmers and a transgender performer flaunted the venomous reptiles as part of a dramatic Nagin dance performance – a nod to India’s folk traditions that took a dangerous, unlawful turn.
Videos captured by wedding guests quickly circulated on social media, showing the cobras being held aloft and swayed to the rhythm, as guests clapped and recorded the spectacle with their phones.
While some saw it as rustic entertainment, wildlife experts saw a blatant violation of the law – and a serious safety hazard.
The Indian cobra, revered in mythology and feared in real life, is protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Its capture, possession or use for public display or performance is strictly prohibited. Yet, in this remote corner of the state, age-old practices still slip past modern legal boundaries.
Acting on a tip-off, the Bhadrak wildlife division attempted to intercept the wedding party near Ugratara Muni Chowk in Chandabali. However, by the time they arrived, the wedding party had already moved a considerable distance. The officials seized three live cobras along with their cages.
“The two individuals who brought the snakes are absconding. They were reportedly hired from Bhubaneswar and fled the scene before officials could intervene. Forest officials rescued three cobras,” said Soubhagya Kumar Sahu, divisional forest officer (DFO) of Bhadrak.
Beyond the spectacle, the incident has sparked a broader conversation about the persistence of illegal wildlife practices disguised as tradition. Conservationists argue that such acts, while once culturally ingrained, are no longer acceptable in a country striving to protect its fragile ecosystems.