Title
A Set of Ganpa or Ganjifa Cards
Year/Period
19th century
Region
Orissa, India
Material
Dimension
refer to main
Accession No.
2016-00147-009
Collection of
Ganjifa is pan-Indian, played in its various forms in Indian regions including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka, among others. The ganjifa game of cards originated in Persia but it really flourished in India where the game developed in various forms. Meanwhile, in Persia, the game largely died out. Initially in India, the game was played by the Mughals of northern India, but it soon spread to most parts of the country. The proposed set underscore a rare aspect of Indian heritage – a craft tradition akin to miniature painting and a lesser known Indian game.
