As Gods come to Play: Preserving the Legacy of the Endangered Dashavatara Cards of Bishnupur

The objective of the project is to recreate the Dashavatara card game rulebook, accompanied by videographic documentation of the gameplay. This is valuable since the game is now rarely played and at risk of disappearance. By digitising both the card-making process and the game itself, the project will contribute meaningfully to the preservation of an important cultural heritage of West Bengal.

Set of ten conventional mantri cards. Private collection of Dr. Anuradha Roy, 1983. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.

Incomplete Matsya avatara card. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.

Dashavatara relief (varaha avatara) on local heritage architecture. Terracotta relief Madan Mohan Temple 1694 CE. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.

Brushes handcrafted from tails of sacrificial animals. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.

Artisan at work. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.

Team member with the younger members of the custodian family. Photo credit: Shreyashi Chaudhuri.

Detailed Dashavatara relief panel of Madan Mohan temple Bishnupur circa 1694 CE. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.

PI: Dr. Shreyashi Chaudhuri

Collaborator: Dr. Shrabani Basu

Location of Research: Bishnupur, Bankura district, West Bengal, India

Host Institution: Deshabandhu Mahavidyalaya

Dr. Shreyashi Chaudhuri

Dr. Shrabani Basu

Ayan Kundu

Top banner image: Mantri cards work in progress with certain ingredients- charcoal, lime stone and handmade brushes. Photo credit: Ayan Kundu.