The Kalbelias have different traditions from the majority of Hindus. The Kalbelias are Cultural Hindus and practise snake worship they worship the Nāga and Manasa, and their holy day is Naga Panchami. Opportunities for performance are sporadic, and also depend on tourism, which is season specific, so members of the community work in the fields, or graze cattle to sustain themselves. Now performing arts are a major source of income for them and these have received widespread recognition within and outside India. Since the enactment of the Wildlife Act of 1972, the Kalbelias have been pushed out of their traditional profession of snake handling. Over the generations, the Kalbelias acquired a unique understanding of the local flora and fauna, and are aware of herbal remedies for various diseases which, in turn, is an alternative source of income for them. The Kalbelias move their deras from one place to another in a circuitous route repeated over time. Kalbelias have traditionally been a fringe group in the society, living in spaces outside the village where they reside in makeshift camps called deras. In the villages, if a snake inadvertently happened to enter a home, a Kalbelia would be summoned to catch the serpent and to take it away without killing it. They revere the cobra and advocate the non-killing of such reptiles. Traditionally, Kalbelia men carried cobras in cane baskets from door to door in villages while their women sang, danced and begged for alms.
They live a nomadic life and belong to the scheduled tribes. The largest cluster of the Kalbelias is in Pali district, followed by significant other groups in Ajmer, Chittorgarh and Udaipur district. They are also called Sapera and Jogira, Gattiwala and Poogiwara. Hence, the dance movements and the costumes of their community bear a resemblance to those of the serpents. They rear snakes, dogs, hens, horses, donkeys, pigs and goats. Their traditional occupation is catching snakes and trading snake venom. The Kalbelias moved frequently from one place to another in ancient times. Kalbelias are divided in two main groups, the Daliwal and Mewara.
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