The Queen, Maharani Satvashiladevi Bhonsale of Rajawada, Sawantwadi in Maharashtra still promotes the Ganjifa painting and is a prolific artist herself painting local animal faces in coasters, mats etc.
Ganjifa is a set of paper cards in different shapes (usually round) with intricate paintings on them. It is also a reference to a card game played with the Ganjifa leaves. ‘Ganjifeh’ is a persian word which means a ‘playing card’. ‘Ganj’ also means a ‘treasure’. This is essentially a pan Indian game originating in the Mughal courts. It was prevalent in states such as Orissa, Bengal, Rajasthan, Kashmir and Maharashtra.
Linked to ABC Wednesday, Wordless Wednesday
WE should appreciate the queens of our culture!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team