“Aiseifaane, mix a mound for goodugooda (traditional hookah). Where is Aamineifaane and others,” this is a typical call when a visitor enters a household that had a goodugooda.
Goodugooda was widely used in Fuvahmulah and throughout Maldivian islands as it was a “partner” of all the smokers for centuries. Goodugooda’s ability to produce pleasant, non-irritating smoke led many to use it.
A goodugooda looks somewhat like a lamp base, with the glass vase at the bottom filled with water and the very top, called a “bowl,” filled with tobacco. When the tobacco heats up and the smoker sucks in through a connected hose, the tobacco smoke gets drawn down through a stem and pulled underwater before rising into an opening in the hose until it reaches the smoker’s mouth.
Goodugoodas produce a dense, flavorful smoke by heating moistened tobacco. In goodugooda the tobacco is heated, rather than burned. This was an “adorable” apparatus of Maldivian women. They have a craving for it. Women gather in groups and share the pleasure of goodugooda.
Preparation for smoking by this method involves making a special mixture – with various ingredients such as scents and even cologne (or the so called “fehi koalaavaataro”). The mound is made and laid on to the clay bowl and a hookah foil is kept on the clay bowl. Then charcoal is put on the foil. It is then burnt.
Women enjoy the chilling effects as “ba ba baa” is heard down from the glass vase, sending the signal of pleasure down their spine as they pull the tip of the pipe by deflating their cheeks. While pulling the pipe, they inflate their cheeks to send air from their mouth several times to keep the charcoal burning.
This adorable partner was everywhere they go. While playing cards, other playing activities while sitting and having a friendly chat or to fabricate tales, this loveable partner stays with them. Normally, four to five people will share the goodugooda. For every single pull of the pipe by the joyous ladies, their “partner” says “hm…BA BA BAAAAA” as the thick smoke goes off through the water and their mind is altered for every pull of the pipe when the essence of the smoke flutters their senses.
