In India, the traditional playing cards known as \“Ganjifa\“ represent a unique cultural product that shares similarities with poker combinations. These hand-painted circular cards, often made from ivory, wood, or palm leaves, feature intricate mythological designs and are used in various traditional games.
Indian Ganjifa sets typically consist of 96, 120, or 144 cards, organized into different suits depicting Hindu deities, animals, or royal symbols. The most popular variants include Dashavatara Ganjifa （based on ten incarnations of Vishnu） and Mughal Ganjifa. Artisans in places like Sawantwadi, Maharashtra and Odisha continue to preserve this centuries-old craft, creating beautiful card combinations that reflect India\“s rich artistic heritage.
While modern poker uses standard 52-card decks, traditional Indian card games involve complex combinations and strategies that require memorization of numerous symbolic representations. The manufacturing process involves multiple stages including cutting, priming, painting with natural colors, and lacquering, making each deck a unique work of art that showcases India\“s diverse cultural traditions through card combinations. |
