Ganjifa is a type of playing card from India that has its roots in Persia in the 16th century. The word ganjifa comes from the Persian word ganj, which means treasure. Decks consist of 96 or 120 cards, and the rules of the game are influenced by whether it is day or night outside.
Ganjifa cards are usually round. They could be made from expensive materials like ivory or cheaper materials like paper or cloth. The motifs on the cards are usually inspired by Hinduism or depict scenes from the Indian epic Ramayana. Military and court life scenes are also common motifs on the cards.
Ganjifa was popular among all social classes in India for a long time but later became a game for men. Nowadays, cards are rarely played and are mainly sold as collectibles.
The World Culture Museums have released a reprinted edition of a Ganjifa deck from the museum's collection. Now you have the chance to try playing in the exhibition or buy one via the online store!
English subtitles available.
