Be the kingmaker in an epic battle of gods

The Dashavtar Ganjifa, an ancient card game that pits Gods against each other, was resuscitated to life by a queen from Sawantwadi whose team of artisans custom-make card sets at her coastal palace, before they reach Mumbai stores and museums abroad

On a shelf in a corner of a store in Mumbai, lie a couple of Ganjifa card boxes that hold the story of a queen who accepted an alcoholic artisan as her teacher, just so that she could keep a dying art alive. In 1972, Rani Satvashiladevi Bhonsle of Sawantwadi witnessed the abolition of princely titles, and with it the slow demise of the art of hand-crafting Ganjifa playing cards.

Ganjifa, an ancient game played with a hand-made, colourfully painted pack of 120 cards depicting mythological characters, including the 10 incarnations of Vishnu, got a shot in the arm when the royal couple launched Sawantwadi Lacquerware in 1972. Learning through trial and error, they experimented with new methods and diversified their range.

Although their circular Dashavtar cards are the fastest-selling, they also offer sets inspired by alphabets, Tarot, zodiac signs, and Chang Kanchan or the Mughal Ganjifa that carries images of kings. The card sets that are available at Contemporary Arts and Crafts, are made from paper unlike ancient times when they were carved from ivory, tortoise shells, mother of pearl and palm leaves. The outline drawings are still made from soot obtained from burning tin over a kerosene lamp to obtain the "darkest black colour possible".

At Sawantwadi Lacquerware, the card-making process is one of assembly line production, with one person dedicated to each task. So, while one artisan cuts the card paper, a second etches out the outline and borders, while a third fills in colours and lacquers it. They make 5 packs of 120 cards at a time, and it takes the team of three artisans and 20 part-time artists two weeks to do so. Each piece is unlike another, with Rani Satvashiladevi often asking the artisans to re-make certain designs to satisfaction.

For her efforts in preserving local crafts, she has won the Master Craftsmen award from the Maharashtra government for what's considered a collector's item in the West. The Sawantwadi Ganjifa cards enjoy a place at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Prince of Wales museum in Mumbai and museums in the US and Germany.

What, where, why of ganjifa
The Ganjifa cards are believed to have been introduced in India by Mughal emperors in the 16th century. The word Ganjifa comes from a Persian word meaning treasure. Legend has it that in 1527, Emperor Babar gifted Ganjifa cards to his friend in Sindh. The Mughal Ganjifa cards soon became a popular card game, and the cards were modified to reflect stories in miniature from the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Dashavtaras. It was supposed to purify you of your sins since you were uttering names of Gods. They were an integral part of a Brahmin bride's trousseau. In India, the cards were made in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Orissa, Bengal, Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh.
Rules of the game
A pack of 120 cards includes pictures of the 10 avtaras of Lord Vishnu, including Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha and Krishna. The ace to 10 are marked by their symbols. Eg: the ace to 10 of Matsya avtar is marked with fish, and that of Kurma, with turtles. The game needs three players and the winner is the one who collects the maximum number of cards, irrespective of their value.

At: Contemporary Arts and Crafts, 19, Napeansea Road.
Open: 10 am to 8 pm from Monday to Saturday, and 10 am to 7 pm on Sundays.
Call: 23630740.
PRICE: Rs 9,950 for a large pack of cards

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