A hookah is a single or multi-stemmed instrument for vaporizing and smoking flavored tobacco (called shisha), or sometimes cannabis, whose vapor or smoke is passed through a water basin—often glass-based—before inhalation.

The word hookah is a derivative of "huqqa", a Hindi-Urdu term. Outside its native region, hookah smoking has gained popularity throughout the world, especially among younger people, largely due to immigrants from the Levant, where it is especially popular.

You still face the same health risks of using a hookah to smoke due to the toxic nature of the chemicals in carbonized tobacco, and other chemicals.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org