Ganjifa, an ancient Indian card game, was historically believed to have been brought to India and popularised during the Moghul period. Ganjifa cards were also known as ‘kreeda patras’ and were also made on sandalwood pieces and ivory, etched in enamelled silver and gold. Variety in GanjifaThere was the Sawantwadi Ganjifa from Maharashtra, Navadurga Ganjifa from Orrisa, Rajasthan and Gujarat, Kashmir Ganjifa, Nepal Ganjifa and the Mysuru Ganjifa. The origin of Ganjifa cards are however traced in Persia and China, while scholars have also traced them to Arabian countries. “The Moghul GAnjifa cards had paintings of wrestlers, acrobats, swordsmen, soldiers, hunters, musicians, animals and birds.

Source: The Hindu November 13, 2019 10:44 UTC