Ganjifa - The Oriental Playing Card Decks

What Is Ganjife?

Ganjifa or Ganjife cards are a type of playing cards that were predominantly found in Persia and
India. They are historically a vital statement of the geographical art and are now confined only to
few handicraft units in parts of India

The period of Ganjife and Locations

In Persian courts formed after the formation of Mughal Empire in

India, from the time of Babur the cards were called Ganjife, and the cards found elsewhere in
areas that were and are predominantly isolated from such influences such as Orissa, an eastern
state below Bengal, there are several variants found.

The types of Ganjife

Ganjifa cards that are still made in India are mainly of two types -
● Those found in Mysore area of Karnataka, South India
● Those found in Puri area of Orissa, East India

Both these types of cards are similar in shape and size. They have similar iconography of
deities and use of colours and paints.

Pattachitra

But in Oriya decks, there is use of Pattachitra. Pattachitra is translated as cloth picture. It is a
traditional art of painting pictures on cloth of religious deities mostly.
In Oriya decks Pattachitra is mandatorily used and only just falls short of Geographical Indicator
tag, which should soon be allotted by the government. The decks of Ganjife or Ganjapa as it is
called in Oriya include

● Ramayana suite of cards - Ramayana is the sacred book of Lord Ram’s life and the deck
celebrates the lore surrounding it.
● Dashavatara suite - Dashavatara or Ten Incarnations refers to the 10 incarnations of
Lord Vishnu and depicts them colourfully and aesthetically
● Birds suite amongst others.

Ganjapa Types

Ganjapa is of many types and is mostly confined as a game for men in society as contrasted to
playing card tables of women in Europe and even upper middle class India. Here, historically
king and his courtmen played and now villagers do so. The game is for recreational or betting
purposes.

Ganjapa is played as -

● Charirangi - cards of 4 colors,

● Atharangi - cards of 8 colors
● Dasarangi - cards of 10 colors
● Bararangi - cards of 12 colors
● Chaudarangi - cards of 14 colors
● Sohalarangi - cards of 16 colors

Unique Oriya Ganjapa

As a result of the relative isolation of Odisha in the

past, Ganjapa developed very differently from the Ganjifa found in the rest of India. Odisha has
by far the largest community of Ganjifa players and manufacturers.
Imagery in Ganjapa

Each suit of the cards has 1-10 cards, one king and one vizier. The king and vizier are depicted
in various ways by traditional artisans in various decks. The king's card has a painting of him in
sitting posture with legs folded at the knees known as chauka madi basa, with the vizier's card
with him standing. The king is also seen riding a chariot with the minister mounted on a horse.
Some of the cards have the king with two heads and the minister with one head. Signature
figures from Pattachitra like imaginary figure with human head and four legs of four different
animals are also seen in cards.

Occult symbolism in Playing Cards

As has been repeatedly seen in European traditional decks, the tarot represented in the usual
deck contains the four elements or four time periods of the year - two solstice and two
equinoxes.(1) These symbolical readings are used to reflect the current state much like the I-
Ching of the Chinese. The Ganjapa with its rich mythic lore and language has more to offer as

well.

References -

Wikipedia - Ganjifa, Ganjapa, Pattachitra

Christies Art Gallery - Mughal Ganjife
(1) https://www.emotions.64g.ru/xron/xr6en.htm