Setting up a Chillum

It is said that all the credit of the beautification of the Hujrah goes to the Chillum, i.e., without it the Hujrah will be incomplete and dull. The chillum is simply a water-pipe (called Sheesha in the Arab World and Hookah/Chillum in the sub-continent and Afghanistan).

For those who are fond of using the Chillum, or for those who want to try it, here is the complete procedure of setting it up.

General Procedure:

1. Fill the Chillum with water but make sure you don't put too much water in it. There should be enough to cover around a finger of the tube submerged in it.
2. Place the Upper portion of the Chillum (Pipe Section) into the Base of the Chillum. Make sure that both pieces fit snugly and are air-tight.
3. Attach the mouth piece hose to the Upper portion of the Chillum. (This depends upon the model of Chillum you are using; most have the hose built in to either the upper portion or the base)
4. Once everything is in place, test the Chillum if it is air-tight or not. You can do this by blowing through the pipes in either directions and sensing with your hands whether there is any air leaking out.
5. Once this is done, place Tobacco in the clay pot at the top portion of the Chillum. (Some people use flavours for which a special surface is put on top of the small clay pot. This can be aluminium foil poked with small holes with the help of a tooth-pick. This is done because the charcoal or other device you are using can adulterate the flavours and thus the gauze/foil keeps it out.)
6. Light the charcoal or set light the tobacco in the clay pot.
7. Gently press the charcoal with an object and suck in through the mouth piece.
8. The smoke will gradually build in inside the base of the Chillum; usually after about 5 or so puffs. The taste of the tobacco will come to the mouth straight away.