Smoking Nargela is much like the Indian Peace Pipe and with any smoke there's risk. Cigarettes are loaded with additives which makes them more dangerous than Nargela. "Narghile" is from the Persian word nargil, or "coconut", itself borrowed from Sanksrit narikera."Shisha" is from the Persian word shishe, or "glass" Sheesha/Narghile (Nargela) is less harmful than cigarettes. Cigarettes contain a lot more tar than argeela/sheesha tobacco. One cigarette contains about 9mg of Tar in it whereas a whole box of sheesha tobacco contains 0.1mg of Tar. Tar is the thing that harms you body so in that respect it is less harmful. Shisha smoking is generally believed to be less damaging to health than cigarettes. Research has shown that since the tobacco is being heated (as opposed to burned), fewer carcinogens are produced in the smoke. The mixture of tobacco is not directly burnt, but is heated using lit coals or an electric device (as in Saudi Arabia and other countries of the Persian Gulf). These coals usually rest on a metal mesh or perforated aluminum foil which covers a clay or metal bowl containing the tobacco preparation, although traditional smokers sometimes place the coals directly upon the maassel, producing a stronger smoke.