MOBILE HOOKAH SHOPS OF KASHMIR IN OLDEN DAYS

                                                                        

THE HOKAAH PUFFS IN A BAZAAR OF SRINAGAR CASHMERE 1854 

 (A WATER COLOUR BY WILLIAM CARPENTER 1854)

This Painting shows a Kakear ( One who used to serve Hookah to customers)

Sometimes only Dua salaam , sometimes a handful of rice and sometimes a coin . That is what the Kakear ( Roadside mobile HOOKAH shop ) got who offered people Hookah puffs in the BAZAAR. Kakear was a part of the kashmiri society . He carried a bag across his shoulder in which he would keep three or four tongs , a pouch of fresh Tobacco and some charcoal in a Kangri nearby. This was a mobile Hooka shop that existed in a BAZAAR . They would also be seen in Fairs and gatherings outside shrines.Pay something and have a puff. Not in cash . Pay in kind as well. He would cater to poor and the working class who could not carry the Hooka along .

Kashmiri Pandits were also addicted to HOOKAH. A HOOKAH was the first thing that was kept ready in the morning by the Daughter in law generally for her father in law. Sometimes the son would perform this duty . It had to be cleaned , a kangri had to be kept ready with burning charcoal , the tobacco box had to be kept full and a measured quantity of water had to be put inside the HOOKAH water tank so as to produce proper gurgling sound . Excess water would neither produce the Gurgling sound but would invariably enter the mouth on puffing . 

Once The eldest family member had his puffs , he would keep the HOOKAH aside and leave for his daily work . Young boys would also take a puff secretly . It was followed by Puffs from womenfolk in the afternoon .

Kashmiris were addicted to Tobacco through this HOOKAH or JEJEER.

With the arrival of Cheap cigarettes and overall development and progress in many spheres ,Kakears or kakouris (as some people called them ) suddenly became non existent from kashmiri society sometime around 1975 or 1976.

( Autar Mota 31.07.2014 )

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