Friday, March 29, 2024

The History Of Card Games In India

The History Of Card Games In India

Card games are an integral part of Indian heritage and tradition. Each region of India has its own card game that they have either created or adopted as their own. They have certainly evolved over the centuries to become the modern games that millions play today.

The origin of card games in India

The origin of card games in India is debatable. Some people believe that Persians first introduced a card game to the Indian subcontinent and called it ‘ganjifa’. The name came from the Persian word for playing cards – ganjifeh. The first references to ganjifa were made in the biography of Babur, who was the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India.

Card games Only extremely wealthy people played ganjifa with a set of cards plated with ivory and tortoiseshell and decorated with precious stones like gold and pearls. The more money you had, the more expensive your set of cards would be. Cards played must be of the same suit, and the highest value wins.

Card games There is another theory for the origin of cards in India. Unlike the rectangular shape of the cards used in China and Korea, Indian cards were originally round in shape. These round cards typically had images of animals and plants on them, and each of the symbols had a specific value, much like the numbers and letters on modern cards.

Another fable that explains the origin of card games is that of a Hindu legend. The wife of an Indian king was so bored and annoyed by the king’s gross habit of always plucking his beard hair that she created the game of cards to keep her husband’s hands occupied and away from his beard.

The birth of ‘Taash’

Card games Indian cards are now commonly called taash. The name became popular in the sixteenth century when Mughal emperors from Central Asia popularised it. The king endorsed the game and turned it into a game that everyone could play, regardless of their wealth.

And since most citizens could not afford the more expensive cards made from gold or pearls, cards were created using leaves, cloth and eventually, paper.

The English influence on card games in India

The British had their own style of playing cards, and so, they brought the 52-card deck to India. The traditional game of teen patti eventually became blackjack. Indians also invented baccarat at the time of the British colonial rule.

However, the new card games failed to attract most citizens. Indians continued to play local games, while the upper class began playing blackjack and bridge.

Today, modern is a huge part of daily Indian life. Everyone bonds over card games. The most popular in India today are rummy, bluff, twenty-eight, rang, and bridge. One of the most popular Indian played today, twenty-eight is a trick-taking card game for four players, using 32 cards. Indian rummy uses a typical 52-card deck, and each card has a designated point value. The winner is the player who is able to play out all cards from their hand.

You can try a few of the most popular Indian card games online or download casinos. But before logging on to just about any casino website, ensure that you’ve read its reviews on an authentic casino gaming review site. Happy playing!

abubakarbilal
abubakarbilal
Abubakar is a writer and digital marketing expert. Who has founded multiple blogs and successful businesses in the fields of digital marketing, software development. A full-service digital media agency that partners with clients to boost their business outcomes.
RELATED ARTICLES

Most Popular

Recent Comments