Hookah (also known as shisha, nargileh, or kalian) involves adults smoking
flavored tobacco from a water pipe in which they pass a hose and take a puff among
family or friends. It centers around conversations and promotes a more connectedness
among those participating. Hookah is deeply rooted in a cultural tradition that has been
present throughout generations among Indian, Persian, Turkish, Egyptian, and other
Middle Eastern families. Its gesture is more than an entertaining social activity or means
to relax, it’s a way that families, relatives, friends, and business associates in these
cultures provide hospitality and strengthen bonds with one another.