Ganjifa- Art on Playing Cards

Originally known as Ganjifa in Persian language and Kreeda Patra in Sanskrit , are playing cards. Playing cards game is believed to be brought to India during Mughal era. So the painting of cards have the history of thousand years in India. During Mughal era Ganjifa was pass time of the  Royals. Though there are some rectangular Ganjifa cards, these cards are mainly circular in shape.

Dashavatara paintings on Ganjifa cards

There were many styles developed in Ganjifa, depending on the region- Bengal, Orissa, Rajasthan,Mysore , Konkan etc. Though there is difference in colors and lines, the main intention of these cards was playing.

Sri Mummadi Krishnaraj Wodeyar of Mysore, Karnataka, devised new form, to narrate Hindu mythological stories. So we can find mythological figures in Ganjifa cards.

Shiva painting on Ganjifa card

Shiva Ganjifa painting

The colors used here are natural colors and Ganjifa art is drawn on handmade papers.

Laksmi – Ganjifa Art

These are drawn in circles of diameter maximum ten centimeters. But the features and colors are very clear.

Shri Raghupati Bhat of Mysore, revived this art and most of the Ganjifa cards available now are either drawn by him or replicas of  his styles. He has won a national award for reviving Ganjifa Art.

Hope this art gets many patrons and revived.

Love, Laugh and Live the life to the fullest,

-Ranjana