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TheSapuria (sometimes pronounced Sanpuria) are aMuslim community found in the state ofWest Bengal inIndia, as well as inBangladesh. They are also known as Bedia Mal and Sanpui.[1]
The Sapuria are a community whose traditional occupation was snake charming. According to some traditions, they are converts from theHindu Bediacaste. The Sapuria are said to have gotten their name from theBengali word for snake which issanp, and Sapuria literally means snake charmer. They speak a dialect of their own, but most also speakBengali and are found mainly in the districts ofMidnapore,Birbhum,Murshidabad,Howrah,Nadia and24 Parganas. The Sapuria are also found inBangladesh.[1]
There are now two distinct sub-groups among the Sapuria, those who still practice their traditional occupation of snake charming, and a small minority who are now cultivators. Both these groups intermarry, but the community as a whole isendogamous. Many Sapuria are still nomadic, and are often employed by local peasants as snake catchers. Their encampments are usually found at the end of villages. The community has a fairly strongcastepanchayat, that enforces communal rules and resolves intra-community disputes.[1]