A chillum, or chilam, or sulpa is a straight conical smoking pipe traditionally made of either clay or a soft stone (such as steatite or catlinite). It is used popularly in Nepal and India to smoke marijuana.A bidri chillum ,Dolf Hartsuiker. John van Zijl of Plumstead, South Africa was the first person to smoke from a marble chillum. Holy Smoke ince last 5000 years by Sadhus, Nagas and Yogis of India A small stone is often used as a stopper in the stem. The style of pipe spread to Africa, and has been known in the Americas since the 1960s. A chillum pipe is used in Rastafari rituals.
History According to Alfred Dunhill, Africans have long employed chillum-style pipes for smoking cannabis and later tobacco. Gourds and various horns were often employed while conical bowls were common in Uganda. One of the more famous pipes is an ivory cone pipe once belonging to Buganda monarch King Mtesa.
More recently, it has also seen use in sacraments by Rastafari.Spotlight on Rastafarian sects 'Rasta in Transition' launched at Livity Restaurant
Rastafari ceremony In Rastafarian meetings called "reasoning sessions" and during Grounation Day celebrations, a chillum is used. It is made of a cow's horn or conical wood piece, fitted with a long drawtube giving the smoke time to cool before inhalation. A bong-like chillum equipped with a water filtration chamber is sometimes referred to as a chalice. Rastafaris offer thanks and praises to God (referred to as Jah in Rastafari) before smoking the chillum.The Rastafarians by Leonard E. Barrett 1988
See also Spiritual use of cannabis Smoking pipe (non-tobacco) Hookah Bong One-hitter (smoking)
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