Bharata Tarot Playing Cards (Canceled)

The Bharata Tarot Playing Cards project aimed to blend the rich aesthetics of Indian royalty and traditional folk art with the structure of playing cards and tarot. Designed by Sunish Chabba, Creative Director at Guru Playing Card Company (GPCC), Australia, the deck was intended to be a luxury item, highlighted by its silver gilded edges. The campaign, though ultimately canceled, sought to introduce collectors to unique, mythology and folk art-inspired playing cards while raising awareness about these beautiful art forms.

GPCC's broader mission is to honor and contemporize various art forms through its diverse range of decks, encouraging collectors to build unique sets. The Bharata deck was conceived as a tangible, crafted item, reflecting Chabba's personal appreciation for physical objects in an increasingly digital world. The project emphasized a blend of traditional inspiration with a contemporary presentation, aiming to appeal to both playing card enthusiasts and those interested in unique cultural collectibles.

The campaign offered various reward tiers, including single decks, multiple decks, and bundles that sometimes included a bandana. Notably, some tiers explicitly mentioned "Bharata Tarot Playing Card decks," suggesting a dual nature or a specific tarot-inspired variant within the playing card format. This indicates an intention to bridge the gap between a standard playing card deck and a deck with tarot influences, potentially in its artwork or thematic elements.

This deck would have appealed to collectors of unique playing cards, particularly those interested in decks with cultural themes, especially Indian art and mythology. It targets enthusiasts who appreciate luxury production details like gilded edges and those who value tangible, art-inspired collectibles. The "Tarot" aspect would also draw in tarot readers or enthusiasts curious about decks that blend traditional playing card structures with broader divinatory or symbolic influences, especially if they appreciate non-traditional, culturally rich interpretations.

Sunish Chabba is an avid playing cards enthusiast and a member of the 52 Plus Joker Club. He serves as the Creative Director at Guru Playing Card Company (GPCC) in Australia, an initiative dedicated to offering mythology and folk art-inspired playing cards. GPCC aims to spread awareness about these art forms and use them in a contemporary manner. In his professional life, Chabba works as a consultant and coach for product development teams, but he maintains a strong appreciation for tangible, crafted items like playing cards.