Ganjifa

Indian playing cards were developed independently of their European counterparts. However, Persian influences are obvious. Typically they are round, but there are also rectangular shapes. Except for the Ganjifah all symbols of the cards are taken from the Hindu myths and astrology.

History and types

It derives the round shape of Brett stones, although direct evidence for this relationship are lacking. Overall, it is about Indian playing cards ill-informed; there are few studies that deal with it.

In addition to the indigenous games described below also recreations of European games are common. There are games with mixed color characters who wear both Indian and European (mostly French ) symbols.

Ganjifah

The word Ganjifah (English Ganjifa ) is Persian origin ( ganjifeh كنجفه ), simply meaning " playing cards ". However, it usually refers to the most famous Indian card game. The Ganjifah is probably the game that is mentioned in the oldest sources, where it is said of the Mughal emperor Akbar (1542-1605) would have developed from an older game with 144 sheets in 12 colors.

This is a game with eight colors to two trumps ( stockings ), and 10 number cards - a total of 96 sheets. It is a game of profane image content. The eight sets are supposed to symbolize the eight administrative units of the imperial Mughal court. The stockings are Mir ( King ) and Pradhan (Minister ). The number cards are defined in value by the number of characters. The eight colors form two groups of four colors, the first is considered to be weaker, stronger than the second. The order of the values ​​changes. First leads on the day of the match, the second night. The I of the first color of each group is thus the highest trump, the Pasha. The weak group: 1; Surukuh, 2; Bharat ( document ); 3; Quimash; 4; Chang (Indian lyre -like musical instrument ). Strong group: 5; Safet (Moon), 6; Shamsher (sword ), 7; Taj ( three-pronged crown), 8; Golam ( people in various scenes). The affiliation of a leaf to one of the groups is not indicated by color characters, but by the primer paint.

Dashavatara

The court cards are from the mythological sphere. Make Vishnu is in its 10 incarnations that correspond to the 10 colors with their two trumps and the 10 number cards, so 120 sheets. Each card carries a the whole surface covering base color. Due to the resulting sequence from the myth of the Incarnation order of the colors is given. The game is played usually in threes, but there are variants for 5 players in Bengal.

Evidence from the South Indian culture are missing for this game.

Ramayana

The Ramayana game builds on the mythology of the god Rama. It consists of 144 sheets and is divided into 12 colors to two trumps and 10 number cards. The higher of the two stockings each Rama is enthroned under a canopy.

Chad

Is a South Indian game of which 13 are known variants. This game is a mixture of mythological and astrological elements. A typical example is the Chamundeshwari game preside in which a total of 16 mythological figures. The values ​​of the 12 number cards arising from the sequence of signs of the zodiac. The resulting 288 sheets become even 25 Shakti, which can be regarded as an additional trump cards. Finally, there are seven leaves with the appearance of a great bird to have a wildcard feature.

Panch Pandava 216 (192 ) sheet with 12 colors to 6 stockings. These are: cars, litter, riders on horseback, elephant riders, Fußkämpfer and palace roof.

This is related to the Jagad Mohan game, which, however, no astrological reference has. It consists of 360 leaf and consists of 18 colors to six stockings and 12 number cards. There are also 27 Shakti (without color characters, depicting gods ) and 9 bird Joker.

Another game in this group is the Nawa Graha with 216 sheet (12 colors with 6 Atouts and 12 number cards ).

Krishna Raj, also belonging to the Chad group, has 72 sheets in four colors to 6 trumps and 12 number cards.