Bharata Major Arcana Tarot
Bharata Major Arcana Tarot inspired by Indian art forms by Ishan Trivedi & Sunish Chabba, 2018.
Above: Bharata Major Arcana Tarot by Ishan Trivedi & Sunish Chabba, Guru Playing Card Company, 2018. 26 Poker size cards (63 X 88mm; 22 Major Arcana + 4 extra cards), gilded edges with an antique look, printed in China. The names of backers who supported the project on Kickstarter are mentioned in the accompanying booklet. In the back design and box elements of Indian Rajputana painting and architecture have been used. Some symbols have been picked from Indian folk arts.
The illustrations are based on traditional Indian folk art forms, Kishangarh style & miniature paintings. Apart from the classic tarot meanings, symbolism found in folk art has also been used. The trump sequence is based on Rider-Waite. Each card is hand-drawn and then finished digitally. The illustrator Ishan Trivedi’s work has been appreciated by both Indian & foreign publishers.
Above: the Tower represents sudden change, destruction and revelation. The Fool represents new beginnings, innocence and a free spirit. The Lovers card is inspired from Bani Thani, a 17th century painting by Nihâl Chand (1710-1782), chief court painter to King Savant Singh.
Above: some sources of inspiration.
REFERENCES
By Simon Wintle
Spain • Member since February 01, 1996
I am the founder of The World of Playing Cards (est. 1996), a website dedicated to the history, artistry and cultural significance of playing cards and tarot. Over the years I have researched various areas of the subject, acquired and traded collections and contributed as a committee member of the IPCS and graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal. Having lived in Chile, England, Wales, and now Spain, these experiences have shaped my work and passion for playing cards. Amongst my achievements is producing a limited-edition replica of a 17th-century English pack using woodblocks and stencils—a labour of love. Today, the World of Playing Cards is a global collaborative project, with my son Adam serving as the technical driving force behind its development. His innovative efforts have helped shape the site into the thriving hub it is today. You are warmly invited to become a contributor and share your enthusiasm.
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