ARTICLE
Ganjapa
Although Ganjapa cards continue to be made for regular use, innovation and patronage have declined steadily since the late twentieth century, impacting the quality and creativity of the cards. As a means of livelihood, some Ganjapa artisasts have taken to making painted versions of Western playing cards depicting erotic imagery based on temple art. In Puri, artists produce Ganjapa cards part time, dedicating the majority of their time to repainting the Jagannath Temple’s idols, textiles and walls during major festivals.
Some Ganjapa artists receive aid from government organisations and not-for-profit organisations such as the Puri Creative Handicraft Cooperative Society to sustain the game. However, public demand for Ganjapa cards remains low, and the average artist rarely has the resources to produce the more finely crafted decks which were once the norm.
Bibliography
Leyden, Rudolf Von. Ganjifa: The Playing Cards of India. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1982.
Panda, Namita. "Days Numbered for Ganjapa Cards." Telegraph India, June 27, 2018. https://www.telegraphindia.com/odisha/days-numbered-for-ganjapa-cards/cid/216097.
"Playing Cards of Yore." The Hindu, June 30, 2001. https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-miscellaneous/tp-others/playing-cards-of-yore/article27964677.ece.
Singha, Minati. "Ganjapa Lost in the Mists of Time." The Times of India, May 22, 2014. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/Ganjapa-lost-in-the-mists-of-time/articleshow/35465926.cms.