Artisans of Bishnupur

Dashavatar Tash

The famous indoor game played by Malla kings of Bishnupur was ‘Dashabatar Tash’ and it is internationally famous as a collector’s item. This card game was invented by Malla king Veer Hambir and was based on the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The Dashabatar cards comprise of 10 suits of 12 cards each. Presently, the Foujdar family of Bishnupur is the only practitioners of this unique folk art. They make the cards using cloth, the glue of tamarind seeds, chalk dust, colours, vermilion and lac.