Ganjifa Cards: A Sawantwadi Art

Playing cards is a part of the Indian culture, especially during festivals and functions, and the Ganjifa card game is woven into this tradition. Adorned with pictures of deities, the card game came to India from Persia, and became popular during the Mughal rule during the 16th century.

The intricately designed Ganjifa cards are made till date at Sawantwadi in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, and practised by the Chitrakar community. The card game, which aims to tell stories from the ancient scriptures, are being preserved with the help of royal patronage.