Ganjifa: A Persian Game That Evolved With The Indian Subcontinent

The word "Ganjifa" derives from the Persian word "Ganj," which means "treasure" or "granary." However, as Ganjifa, it has come to stand for card games. In fact, during the Mughal reign, Ganjifa was a well-known card game. It is mentioned in Babur's memoirs. Later, Abul Fazl, Akbar's historian, mentioned how Akbar had simplified the game. As a source of entertainment, Ganjifa was a very popular card game in the Mughal courts. It was played on several occasions, including festivals.

The Game

Each suit has two court cards, Raja (King) and Mantri (Minister) and ten other cards that adopt various attributes. Three types of cards are known Chitrakatha, which is similar to the Pathan style and allows the mobility of the figures the Devastaan (temple) style, which is rather static. In the more-popular Ganjifa style, there are many iconographic depictions of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. However, kings used to play with cards made of ivory or tortoise shells laid with precious stones. The cards today are painted on cartridge paper cut into circles. While a downgrade, it requires highly skilled labour with a lot of patience. At least in the traditional style, a pack of cards takes nearly three months to make.

The rules of Ganjifa remain largely consistent regardless of its different versions. Usually played by three players, the game consists of three rounds, although the duration can be modified as needed. The goal in each round is to collect hands or tricks. At the end of a round, the player with the lowest score must exchange their high-ranking cards for the low-ranking cards held by the other players in the subsequent round. The number of cards to be exchanged is determined by the number of tricks lost by that player.

Where to Buy

While you can get your hands on a pack online, Sawantwadi in Maharashtra is where you can score a collectible from the local market (Ubha Bazaar). With the decline of this traditional art form, the descendants of Sawantwadi displayed a keen interest in preserving it. They actively sought to learn the craft from the skilled Chitrakar community, and in 1972, a few artisans were specifically trained to safeguard and promote the tradition. The Chitrakar community was renowned for their expertise in creating these cards, lacquerware, and woodcraft, which contributed to their reputation.

A Sawantwadi ganjifa card set consisted of 120 cards, whereas Mughal ganjifa cards had 96 cards. These cards were intricately designed, bearing the names of various deities. The term "Chankanchan" was commonly used to refer to the cards originating from Sawantwadi. "Chang" symbolised an instrument, while "Kanchan" meant gold. The primary purpose of these games was to impart knowledge and convey stories from ancient scriptures and holy books. Among the different types of ganjifa cards, there were the "Dashavatara" cards featuring the incarnations of Lord Vishnu from the Ramayana. Additionally, there were popular variants like the Navagraha cards representing the nine planets and the Ashtadeekpala ganjifa cards.

Getting There

By Road

Sawantwadi is well-connected to Mumbai, Pune, and Panjim in Goa via National Highways 4, 17, and 66.

By Air

Dabolim Airport in Goa is the nearest airport to Sawantwadi. Private taxis can be hired to reach Sawantwadi. Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport offers the widest connectivity to major international cities.

By Train

The Konkan railway line that connects Mumbai to Mangalore passes through Sawantwadi, which is an occasional stop. The nearest railway junctions with wider connectivity are Mumbai, Pune, and Mangalore.