Ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls, hookah demand and prices soar 150%

The upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, among other things, has driven up the demand for and prices of hookah considerably, as per a report by the Times of India.

The spike in demand and prices have been driven by increasing consumption ahead of the polls, as hookahs consumption is a common practice at khap gatherings and panchayats, ‘chaupals’ being organised at ‘chabutras’ of political leaders, as well as small and large political gatherings in the state.

Consequently, the price of hookahs and demand have increased by as much as 150%.

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Speaking about the hookah consumption culture in UP, Chaudhary Shayveer Singh, who was in charge of filling tobacco into hookahs in former BJP MP Hukum Singh’s chabutra in Kairana, told TOI, “Hookahs are an essential element of all political discussions in western UP.”

Singh’s observation was confirmed by another resident of Kairana, Satish Pradhan, who told the publication, “Regions of western UP such as Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat, Kairana, and Shamli are all dominated by khaps. Hookah becomes popular naturally.”

“Be it religious ceremonies, village chaupals, or panchayats, hookah is an inseparable commodity. Kairana holds the distinction of making quality products,” added Pradhan.

In the city of Kairana, small gatherings of people sitting on cots and chairs smoking hookah is a common sight, and the Shamli district has more than 150 hookah shops owned and operated by small artisans.

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One such shop owner, Furkan Ali, told TOI, “Earlier, I used to sell one hookah in a week or so; today, I’m selling four to five a day.” Ali added that along with sales, prices have rise considerably too, and a hookah that earlier cost Rs 1,000 now sells at Rs 2,500, a 150% increase.

Hookah makers also believe that the rise in prices is justified, given the effort required to make hookahs. “A lot of art is involved in assembling the whole apparatus and it comes from years of experience,” hookah maker Suraaj Ahmad told the publication, welcoming the rise in prices.

The UP Assembly elections, preparations for which are driving up hookah prices, begin on February 10. The elections will be held in seven phases. Vote counting is slated to take place on March 10.