National Crafts Museum & Hastkala Academy

Title : Ganjifa card showing Stylized crocodile

Accession No : 65/7/3838 (70)

Crocodile are symbols of wisdom and the protector and keeper of all knowledge. In this ganjifa card depicting a stylized crocodile.

ReligiousGanjifa Cards are offen produce to spread religious messages, teaching and for education purpose. Makara/ Crocodile appears as the vahana of the river goddess Ganga, Narmada and of the god of the ocean Varuna.
Socio economicPlaying ganjifa cards helps encourages teamwork and fosters a spirit of friendly competition. Crocodile have an important role in the environment. As adults they regulate the population of other animals- stopping them from overcrowding and degrading ecosystems.
ArtisticIvory is a hard, white material from the tusk of elephants. Ivory is a status symbol. It was used to produce many items such as ganjifa cards. The colours used in the set more or less follow the tipical Rajasthani colour scheme. Thus: taj maroon; safed black; shamsher dark red; ghulam yellow; chang dark green; surkh dark green; barat red; qimash dark yellow.

DescriptionCrocodile are symbols of wisdom and the protector and keeper of all knowledge. In this ganjifa card depicting a stylized crocodile.
Inscription/Markings No
ReferenceRudolf von Leyden, Ganjifa: Playing cards of India, Victoria and Albert Museum, London (1982). ISBN-10 0905209176
KeywordGanjifa card, Stylized crocodile