See how an Indian sadhu presses weed and makes his 'Chillum', in Assam

From the archive record

An Indian sadhu/saint prepares a 'chillum' for himself in Assam, India. The chillum is said to have originated in India, although some were found in South America too. Therefore the exact origin of the chillum is unclear. Traditionally, this item has been used in a spiritual context. The Indian Sadhu's (holy men) have been using chillums for thousands of years, and the spiritual meaning of this is comparable to the drinking of red wine by Catholics. The chillum probably pre dates the introduction of substances such as tambakhu to India and was used for various other substances too. But chillum usage has always been an exclusively male practice, limited to the northern states and predominantly in rural areas of India. Often one chillum is shared by a group. In India they are made locally, a