A boardgame inspired by the weaves of Kanchipuram

Dice are rolled, tokens are secured, moves are planned. Time halts at the temple town of Kanchipuram, known for its silks that are eponymous with every occasion in South India, in this unusual strategy board game. The design of the game says as much, replete with traditional motifs — dancing girls on the cover, action cards sporting Bharatanatyam mudras and a colour scheme designed to appeal to Indian sensibilities. While the board itself is not made of fabric, it tries to replicate patterns that are often seen in Kanchipuram silks along with temple motifs that give it a distinct South Indian identity. Madhumita joins in, “Since I was a child, I have always had this fascination towards fabrics and sarees, particularly with incredible designs that are not so visible these days.” Having said that, any other weaving style of fabric would still have made sense for the game, if not Kanchipuram silks, she adds.