Royal Lady with a Hookah
So, when you hear this word, ‘hookah’ the image that is created in your mind is that of a lavishly clothed royal figure, half seated and half lying, resting on decorated and extravagant cushions and linen, with droopy eyes and an intoxicated look and a long pipe in hand, from which, when he smokes up, the gurgling sound of the water that rings in the ears. That is how, we all, always pictured hookah as; a grand way of smoking, by the royalty of India. So, we should take a look at the history of this unique indulgence before, we head on to explore the present day usage and popularity of it.
History of Hookah: The earliest evidences of hookah smoking can be traced back a millennia ago, in the North Western states of India and along the border of Pakistan, primarily in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. According to the prophet of medicine as he was called, by Cyril Elwood, an Iranian physician at Mughal Emperor Akbar’s (1542 – 1605 AD) court, named Hakim Abu’l-Fath Gīlānī (d. 1588), first invented this idea of a subtle form of smoking. The best feature of this instrument was that it filtered the smoke by passing it through water. Tobacco was introduced in India by the Europeans and it was seen that many Mughal noble men took a liking to smoking tobacco quite fast and widely. Hakim Abu’l-Fath Gīlānī was a descendant of Abdul-Qadir Gilani. He saw this trend and raised concerns and invented a way in which the tobacco smoke could possibly be ‘purified’ by passing it through water. An ambassador of Bijapur, named Asad Beg, suggested tobacco smoking to the Emperor Akbar and that was the time, when Hakim Abu’l-Fath Gīlānī came up with the idea of an instrument that would dampen the harmful effects of smoking tobacco directly. The instrument became a symbol of the rich aristocracy and royalty and became very popular in few days. However, some references show that Hookah was a prevalent indulgence way back since the reign of Shah Tahmasp I. So, we can say that though Hookah already existed in Persia, it was introduced in India by Gilani and therefore he gets the due credit and gratitude. In UK, the Hookah pipe is called the ‘Marra’ pipe.
Herbal Hookah: With a growing popularity, hookah underwent changes down the years. Herbal hookah, the popular aromatic experience is a rage all over among young crowds these days. The effects of tobacco are much less harmful than that of cigarette smoking in this case. Hookah bars are a common sight these days. It is an alternate life style to flaunt. The youth likes the ethnic quotient of the Shisha and the innumerable herbal essences that are quite mesmerizing I must say. The nicotine in tobacco is dangerous for health as we all know. Despite the threats to health, people find it difficult to get over their habit of smoking. Herbal hookah comes as a savior here. It gives you the feel and essence of tobacco, while doing negligible harm to your system. It has minimal or no additives and the smoke produced, is cooled down by the water so you are not actually scorching your lungs with direct tobacco smoke.
Herbal Hookah Flavours: Herbal hookah is available in various flavors and essences these days, and with the growing popularity and demand, innovative flavors are coming up with the passage of time. The popular fruity flavors are Strawberry, Liquorice, Mint, Peach, Blueberry, Blackberry, Double apple, Orange, Sweet Melon and Lemon Lime. One of the surprising ones is Pina Colada. So, you can very well, guess the intensity with which it is growing to be popular. Smoking in any form involves the combining of Carbon monoxide with your hemoglobin, when actually, it should combine with Oxygen. This is unavoidable. The three components that are inevitably getting inside your system are Carbon dioxide, Carbon monoxide and particles of the burnt material. However, if you want to reduce the damage and keep it to the minimum, you should switch to herbal hookah. It is the safest way to enjoy your puff. It has no lasting harmful effect on your system.
Benefits of Herbal Hookah: Today, the benefits of herbal hookah are known to people all over and it is emerging as a safer and better alternative to cigarette smoking or direct tobacco smoking. Another unique reason for the growing popularity of the hookah is its artistic features. A hookah is visually, aesthetically captivating. It can be elaborately decorated, can be used as an ethnic accessory in your home and can give the ultimate royal feeling. These hookahs can be very tall, some reaching the height of several feet. The hand blown glass body or the Shisha is often colorful and the pipe or the Marra as it is known in the UK can be wrapped in beautiful materials such as silk and zari. There are hookahs that have a single pipe or multiple pipes. One can always experiment and choose the best one that suits. If the hookah has a metallic body, intricate works can be seen on it which imparts an aristocratic and royal Indian look.
So, if you are hooked on to smoking and would want to switch to a healthier and safer alternative, and you also have a thing for pampering your senses, you should definitely try out herbal hookah. It is not just about the smoke and the fume but a lot about the ambience and the feeling that it imparts.
