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Teen Patti Game: Origins and Popularity in India

Mar 11, 2021: Teen Patti is an Indian variant of the famous poker game. Teen Patti is a gambling game that involves cards, and Indians across the world love the game.  The name Teen Patti in English means "Three Cards Brag", which is similar to the premise of the western Poker game. As the game continues to gain popularity across the globe, Teen Patti, some parts of South Asia prefer to use "Flush" or "Flash" when referring to the game.


Teen Patti is simple, and it brings about communal enjoyment for its players. A table in this game will accommodate between 10 to 12 people at a time. Interestingly, the only skill required to be a pro at the game is to know how to count. By so doing, the game is available to almost everyone to play and enjoy in India.


The game does well to unite people at family gatherings, holiday parties and many more. At these events, you will find people coming together to spend money on the game. The beauty of the game is, anyone can wager in. Interestingly, some experts believe the game has helped Indians engage in safe gambling for several generations. 


Read on as we explore the long history of the Teen Patti Game and its popularity in India today.


History of Teen Patti


To appreciate the rich history of Teen Patti in India, you must first understand the history of gambling in India. Gambling in India started a long time ago. The earliest recordings of gambling are found in two ancient texts; Mahabharata and Ramayana.


These two books describe how the Indian people loved to gamble during King Kansa's reign as early as 1500BC.  Give or take, gambling has been a part of the Indian culture for over 4,000 years, and it keeps evolving with time.


It was this process of evolution that birthed Teen Patti some many years ago. Although we do not know much about the origins of the game, many historians say the Europeans brought it with them during their trade journey to India.


According to these historians, the European merchants at the time used gambling as a means of entertaining themselves. Since gambling was already popular in India, it only took a while before the card games from the Europeans to spread across India.


The most accepted of these card games was Teen Patti. It would seem like the Indians adopted the Three Card Brag and then created their version. It also bears some similarity and looks like a simplified variant of three-card poker. However, the rules for playing Teen Patti differ a bit.


Today, Teen Patti has moved from just the game of merchants. Teen Patti gambling on CasinoHEX.in and other online casinos allow people from around the world to place their bets and enjoy the game.


Why Is Teen Patti so popular in India?


Teen Patti is not the only game of card in India, and it is not the only game that is easy to learn. So, it begs the question, why is the game so popular in India. Well, the popularity of Teen Patti goes beyond its simplicity and availability. Although these two contribute a lot to the game's popularity, there are many more reasons where the game will always remain a firm favourite for Indians home and abroad.


Religious Importance


One of the big reasons Teen Patti is popular in India is it's close to Hindu religious festivals.


For instance, Diwali, the Hindu festival of light, is one of India's largest festivals, and it brings together Indians from all parts of the world. As part of making people socialize, which is the primary purpose of the event, Teen Patti is the game that everyone plays.


Asides from the socializing part, the tradition stems from a belief that Parvati, the Matron and Mother Goddess of the religion, played dice with her husband, Lord Shiva.  According to the Hindu Mythology, Shiva blessed anyone who gambles on Diwali Night. The Hindus believe that gambling on the night of Diwali will bring them property and good fortune. Therefore, Teen Patti is compulsory for everyone who wants to succeed in the New Year.   


Taash Parties and Social Gaming


Religious festivals are not the only time where people play Teen Patti enemas. People also come out in numbers to enjoy Teen Patti games during Taash Parties.


Taash or Urdu Parties in India are essential social gatherings where friends and family gather to play card games. You will find people gather around tables where they place bets on different card games in most cases.  At many of these parties, the game offers two benefits. Firstly, it is a form of social gaming that allows people to interact and enjoy themselves. Secondly, it gives the winners a sense of accomplishment and some cash to go home with.


Bollywood


Teen Patti has become an integral part of India's popular culture, such that several movies have the game as a central theme. Recently in 2010, a Bollywood movie was released with the title Teen Patti. The film that features Bollywood superstars like Amitabh Bachchan, Ben Kingsley and many more shows the game's popularity and beauty across India.  

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