Interview Times 
(By Kedar Mishra)
The relationship between art and sports is not very close. While art is subtle and spiritual, sports are gross and largely concerned with physical energy. However, not all sports are limited to physical skills. There are many sports that only stimulate the brain and psychological strength. Interior games such as Chess,Cards etc depend on mental strength and have subtle forms of brain power. As in the game of Cards, there are many new applications in the colors, lines and figures in its making. The most beautiful combination of art and sports can be seen in ‘Ganjapa’ of Odisha. Let’s talk about this lesser known art form which is also part of a dying tradition of interior games.
- There is no definite opinion about the literal meaning of the word ‘Ganjapa’. However, it has different names in three regions of Odisha. While some call it Tas, it is called “Sara” or “Chakasara” in other regions. In a broader way the Ganjapa is like set of cards. However, in the game of cards, the number of cards in a set is fixed, but number of ‘Ganjapa’ cards varied from region to region.
- The shape of the ‘Ganjapa’ is round while the Roman cards are rectangular. In colloquial Odia it is called Chakk Artists from Ganjam, Puri and Sonepur districts of Odisha make ‘Ganjapa’ and propagate its gaming technique.
- Historically origin of ‘Ganjapa’ is from Mughal Ganjifa. However, with European colonization in India, brought the game of Cards. It seems that ‘Ganjapa’ is to be a combination of Mughal and European art.
- . The Bishnupur rulers of Bengal introduced Dasavatara (ten incarnation of lord Vishnu)and Digapala (guardians of the directions)’Ganjapa’. However, Its not properly known how the elements of Dasavatara and Digapala ‘Ganjapa’ came into Puri tradtion of painters painters.
- A set of ‘Ganjapa’ contains 96/120/144 numbers of round cards. Color variation is also different. Each set contains cards of Eight, ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen or twenty-colours. The colour composition and lining of ‘Ganjapa’ are all unique.
- Dasavatara ‘Ganjapa’ is more popular in Raghurajpur of Puri and Ganjam district. While Sonepur ‘Ganjapa’ depicts the battle of Rama and Ravana from the epic Ramayana. In Sonepur version of ‘Ganjapa’ the individual drawing of characters like Rama, Ravana, Indrajit and Hanuman have Unique features of lines and colours.
- The making of Ganjapa cards do follow a specific indigenous process. The Card is made of cloth and Tamarind gum. Colours are made from local sources like soil, stone, burnt and dry leaves.
- With advancement of modernity ‘Ganjapa’ is dying as an art and also as a game. Hardly we have a good numbers of artisans or skilled players.
- Preservation of this brilliant miniature art form is the cry of the hour. We have very few artisans left who knows the secret of its making and playing.
