Kreedaa Kaushalya 2022 Inauguration

9th edition of Kreedaa Kaushalya exhibition was inaugurated on 24 April 2022 at 6.30 pm. Following are some photographs from the inaugural ceremony.

Kreedaa Kaushalya 2022 Invitation

 

Kreedaa Kaushalya 2022 Brochure

 

 

Play is integral to all forms of social beings. Animals and birds indulge in playful times just as we do. Though food and safety dictate life’s general course, it becomes a celebration if indulged in some passionate play. That is the very reason why we see games throughout human evolution. Outdoor or indoor, games have been evolving just as we humans are progressing. Senet of Pharoahs, Ludo of Quins, Mancala of Aksumites, Ulama of MesoAmerica stand as shining examples of favorite pastimes through the ages. They offer an exciting insight into a bygone era, acting like time capsules. Worldwide, there are hundreds of board games that were played by people of ancient civilizations. Many of them have still not been fully deciphered. Indian board games, likewise, are an enigma for researchers. Their time of origin remains unknown. They are almost always entwined with one or two regional identities, versions, stories and legends. Understanding these games and reintroducing them is the crux of Kreedaa Kaushalya. Here comes another updated version this summer!

Lockdown has been hard on everybody at individual and community level. While life in general is an uphill challenge, an added stress of lockdown was the final straw. Social interaction and gaming hangout with an added advantage of  cultural revival, is long overdue. Kreedaa Kaushalya is a perfect place for just that, this summer.

Medically it is proven that playing boardgames infuses our brain with happy neurochemicals resulting in reduced stress and anxiety; why don’t we do just that with our own forgotten board games?

Ramsons has designed and curated games with its creative team and interesting collaborations across many craft clusters of India. This year, in the focus are some select crafts of Karnataka which have been GI (Geographical Index) tagged by the Government of India. First is the Mysore inlay circular Chess table. Second are colourful Jamkhanas of Navalgunda, with woven patterns of Pagaday and Chaukabara, in different sizes. Exclusive game boards created in sensuous silks with jari weaving, are the third in the list. Finally, the Lambani womenfolk have conjured vivid gameboards in their traditional embroidery. Chakravyuha is a new circular game designed by our in-house game designer, on the lines of the popular Chaukabara. All these have been created by the design wing of Ramsons.

The expo is at our flagship store, 'Ramsons', in front of Zoo.

Every game board and its accessories is an artefact worthy of being family heirlooms. Buying and playing the boardgames of Kreedaa Kaushlaya not only illuminates your home with fun, laughter and happiness, but also supports the art and crafts of our land. Old games shine anew, while some new innovations have been set to challenge the gamer in you. Come to this board game extravaganza, play and have fun with your loved ones.

 

Kalighat style Patachitra by artist Anwar Chitrakar of Kolkata adorn this brochure. The bold flowing lines of varying thickness are employed by the artist to depict the roundness (modeling) of the figures which is the unique aspect of this style which developed as Bazar art around the Kali temple of Kalighat of Kolkata from mid 19th century up until early 20th century.

Along with the images depicting gods and goddesses of Hindu pantheon, the Patua artists of Kalighat painted scandalous affairs of Kolkata's Bhadralok (bourgeoisie) thus poking fun at the latter. The aesthetic of the common man and his wife as depicted in this style, has informed the artist to create these two paintings which was commissioned by Ramsons Kala Pratisthatana and the same was used as the cover images for the brochure of 9th edition of Kreedaa Kaushalya exhibition.

Ramayana Chaukabara

 

The above gameboard is of Chaukabara crafted in Kalamkari art. The four safe houses and the central 'Home' squares have special illustrations. This was designed by yours truly. 

Instead of having the usual 'X' sign or a flower design in these special squares, I thought, why not have something different so that while playing the game the kids will also learn a story. The first thing that came to my mind was Ramayana. 

So starting from the topmost safe square going clockwise we have Rama, Seeta, Hanuman and Lakshmana while the central square has Pushpaka Vimana. This is 'Ramayana Chaukabara.'

Warm wishes of Rama Navami to all the readers.

30 Stades features our story

30 stades.com is a collection of stories that inspire, impact our lives and compel us to think. Even as we need to keep an eye on everyday news that revolves around crime, politics of convenience and economic discomfort, we also need to look at the brighter side of life. And this deeply inspiring positivity comes from people with a vision and enterprises set up with the passion to make a difference.

But, they not just talk about inspiration in all its myriad forms. Which is why, 30 stades.com goes beyond, uncovering stories that impact people and society. Many a times, life-changing and interesting stories remain confined to their localities. 30 stades.com digs out such tales and take them to readers across the world.

This digital magazine '30 Stades' has feautred us and our story of board games. You can read this well-written article at the url given below.

https://30stades.com/2020/07/20/meet-indias-ancient-board-game-hunters-discover-them-in-temples-palaces-and-preserve-craft/

Snakes and Ladders Shivalinga Design

Since a long time I wanted to design the gameboard of Snakes and Ladders in the form of a Shiva Linga. But the jutting out part of Yoni-peetha on one side of the Shivalinga posed a problem of symmetry.

Image courtesy: Internet

Observe that one side is stretched out and hence the symmetry is lost. Then one day in early 2018, Sri R.G. Singh bought an interesting painting which had 108 Shivalingas within one giant Shivalinga. Looking at it was an eureka moment for me. It showed Shivalinga but without the jutting-out part of the Yoni-peetha. It was as if the Almighty wanted me to design the Shivalinga Snakes and Ladders and had sent me a prototype to base it on.

Tarakamantramayi 108 Shivalinga. Artist unknown. Size: 36x51 cms. Collection & Copyright: Ramsingh's Museum of Mysuru Paintigns, Mysuru. 

This painting is now in the collection of Ramsingh's Museum of Mysuru Paintings.

Based on it, I designed a Snakes and Ladders gameboard having 108 squares. I added two winged angels (from the oleograph print of Shilpi Siddhati Siddalingaswamy's Lakshmi Narasimha) on either side of the Shivalinga. If you observe the central bindi (round red dot) within the tripundra, it has the crescent Moon and Sun together. This is a little addition from my side which symbolises that Sun and Moon together to form the crowning ornament (or the third eye) of Lord Shiva.

I have retained the trefoil flower garland, though made the flowers smaller and have not disturbed the beloved leaf of Shiva - Bilvapatra which crowns the Shivalinga.

The artists of Srikalahasti beautifully rendered my design into their traditional craft form of Kalamkari which is given below.

Personally for me, this product process has been quite satisfying since its inception in my mind as a concept, then the design hurdle faced by me, followed by a chance encounter with an artwork which unraveled the problem, further led to a good design and finally the creation of a beautiful product. It is at these times when I hold the product designed by me that I feel proud.

I have designed a Snakes and Ladders gameboard in the form of a temple, you can read about it here.