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water pipes in the news

WATER PIPE IN THE NEWS

 

'Nargile' smoking making a huge comeback in Turkey
By Channel NewsAsia's Turkey Correspondent Ali Aslan

ISTANBUL : The tradition of smoking a water pipe in Turkey - one of the country's most ancient practices - is now making a huge comeback despite almost being wiped out at one point.

One of the oldest and most deep-rooted traditional practice in Turkey is smoking the Turkish water pipe, or what is known locally as the nargile.

Water pipes were actually invented in India. The discovery then spread to Iran where the water pipe got its current name. The word "nargile" means coconut in Persian.

The smoking device then made its way to the Arab world where the first water pipes with glass and ceramic bodies were manufactured and used.

More than just a smoking device, like most smoking implements, nargiles became art objects and collector items.

Antique nargiles are much sought after and priced accordingly, sometimes costing several thousand US dollars.

With its emphasis on slow-paced indulgence, the nargile culture stands in sharp contrast to the hectic, fast-paced and increasingly anonymous lifestyle of the 90s.

To smoke a nargile in fifteen minutes and then leave is widely considered as unmannerly.

An experienced nargile smoker may spend up to three hours over the ceremony.

No alcohol is served in nargile cafes and smokers usually sip coffee or tea as the sound of backgammon tokens being moved is often all that competes with the soft gurgle of bubbling water.

The nargile culture, advocates say, stresses the appreciation of tradition and good company, and teaches one patience as even the preparation of the nargile tobacco is very time-consuming.

The new trend among the younger clientele is nargile tobacco with strawberry, apple or cappuccino flavour.

It is difficult to establish just how much of a health hazard the nargile presents, especially since many nagile users are also cigarette smokers.

But some doctors say because the smoke goes through water, many of the harmful substances are filtered out, making it less dangerous than cigarette smoking.

Then again, other experts say the nargile is hazardous particularly because it can be smoked for several hours at a time.

Nargile may no longer be at the centre of Istanbul's social and political life but it is once again considered by many in Turkey as one of life's greatest pleasures. - CNA

 

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