The word
chalice (along other permutations such as
chalwa,
chali, etc.) is often used to refer to
marijuana itself, which certain Rastafari consider to be of specific religious importance as they believe it is a gift from
Jah. The term "lick the chalice" refers to Rasta communing with
Jah. A group of practitioners gather in a communal meeting, known as "groundations," a prayer is said, and the chalice lit and passed counter-clockwise among the group. A
bong-like chillum equipped with a water filtration chamber is sometimes referred to as a
chalice, based on a quote from the
Biblical book of
Deuteronomy. Thanks and praises are offered to
Jah before
smoking the chillum. ==See also==