Ladies Playing #Chaupar (forerunner of #Chess which was invented in #India around 300 BC)
c1800 AD #Pahari #IndianMiniaturePainting in #Basohli #Jammu style from #Chamba #HimachalPradesh now at British Museum, London.
On #InternationalChessDay (20th July)
#IndianHistory #Mastodons #Art #Heritage #IndianHeritage #Paintings #Recreation #MastoArt #Himalayas #ArtOfTheDay #History
'Four Women Play a #Game of #Chaupar in this c1800 AD #Pahari painting from #Basohli #Jammu & now at British #Museum London.
Pachisi is similar to Ludo & has been played in #India since the 'Painted Grey' period (1200BCE to 600BCE).
It is the main plot of #Mahabharata
Another legend tells us of a King who had 2 trained mice 'Sundri & Mundri'. The king would distract his opponent by telling tales. He would then utter the mice names who would move the pieces without his opponent noticing!
#art
July 20 is celebrated as #WorldChessDay
The #chess has origins in #india
The forerunner of the #game is Pachisi or #Chaupar played in #AncientIndia
This c1725 AD #Rajput #IndianMiniaturePainting from #Bikaner #rajasthan now at Victoria & Albert #museum London from a 'Barahmasa' or, 12 months shows a game of chaupar being played (top, right).
Barahmasa #paintings use activities of lovers & nature to illustrate the months, this #painting from a dispersed set being of 'Kartik' i.e. November
Since it is #SufiThursday ......
Such #AncientIndia 'Snakes & Ladders' boards were popular in #Jain & #Hindu groups, extolling the effects of vices & virtues.
However, this unusual & rare #Islamic Gyan #Chaupar which is now at Ashmolean #Museum UK was made by a #Sufi saint at #Delhi or #Ajmer #Rajasthan in 1815 AD for a #EastIndiaCompany official.
#India #IndianHeritage #IndianHistory #Art #Games #Entertainment #Spirituality #IndianCulture #Religions #History #Heritage #Museums #BoardGames
Finally Sunday is here. Time out to enjoy favourite pastimes like this 'Raja & Courtiers Play #Chaupar' in this c1730 AD #Pahari #IndianMiniaturePainting from #Guler in #HimachalPradesh or #Basohli in #Jammu (both part of the erstwhile #Punjab Hill States).
Chaupar is an #AncientIndian #BoardGame & is considered as an ancestor of #Chess and #Ludo
On Christie's sale of 22 March 2023.
#India #Art #IndianHeritage #IndianHistory #AncientIndia #Painting #IndianCulture #History
Sharad Mohan