Ganjifa Cards of Mysore is the name given to an ancient Indian card game. The specialty of these cards is that they are traditionally hand-painted. This was a game that was popular and played across Medieval India. Each region in the country had its own form of the game.
The original Indian card game known as Kreeda Patra was a popular royal amusement. However, with Persian and Arabic influences during the Mughal era, the Kreeda Patra cards of ancient India came to be known as Ganjifa cards. The name Ganjifa comes from the Persian word “Ganjifeh” which means playing cards.
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The rise of the Mysore ‘Chada’ Ganjifa cards was brought about in the 19th century, under the rule of the then Maharaja of Mysore, Mummadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar III (1794-1868). Given that the main aim of the game was to teach, learn and tell stories from the ancient scriptures and holy books, all the 18 games in the Mysooru-Ganjifa Style were set to stories and shloka’s from the Hindu Purana’s, stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata etc.
The following are the 18 games created by the Maharaja of Mysore.
- Chamundeshwari 320 leaves bunch
- Jaganmohan 360 leaves bunch
- Mahisha Mardhana 216 leaves bunch
- Naveena Dashavatara 240 leaves bunch
- Naveena rama 36 leaves bunch
- Navagraha 216 leaves bunch
- Sadyujata 72 leaves bunch
- Sri Krishnaraja 72 leaves bunch
- Panchapandava 216 leaves bunch
- Devi Dashavatara 180 leaves bunch
- Dikpala 160 leaves bunch
- Manohara 160 leaves bunch
- Sarva Mangala 160 leaves bunch
- Navaratna 160 leaves bunch
- Ramayana 96 leaves bunch
- Dashavatara 120 leaves bunch
- Sarvasam rajya 636 leaves bunch
- Astaishwarya 320 leaves bunch
The book titled ‘Sritattvanidhi’ is the monumental work of Maharaja Wadiyar III where the names of the card games devised by the Maharaja are mentioned in the last chapter, named ‘Kouthuka Nidhi’. The details, like the number of cards used, significance of each style of iconography, and colour combinations, and the corresponding ‘shlokas’, are all collected and organised.
The unique feature of the Mysore Ganjifa cards lie in the fact that these are traditionally hand-painted typically on circular or oval cards, using natural colours rich in minerals , vegetable dyes with fine squirrel hair brush adhering to the traditional tools and techniques. The Various mediums like Ivory, tortoise shell, mother of pearl, gold and silver are extensively used to create intricate works framed in circular shape.
GI Tag Registration Date : 28 March 2008
GI Tag Number : 60
Certificate Number : 50
Geographical Area : Karnataka
Special Cover Release Date : 20 March 2022
Cancellation : Bengaluru GPO 560 001
Type : GI Tag Cover
Cover Identification Number : KTK/031/2022
Each cover is numbered.
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Enlarged View of Cancellation
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