The rise of Mahjong in Visakhapatnam
Engraved ivory-coloured tiles clatter across the table as four players study their racks in silence. Fingers move swiftly over a green felt mat, drawing a
Engraved ivory-coloured tiles clatter across the table as four players study their racks in silence. Fingers move swiftly over a green felt mat, drawing a tile, discarding another and rearranging neat rows with practised ease. A quiet “chao” announces a claimed tile, briefly breaking the concentration before the game resumes. Around the table, strategy unfolds as memory, observation and a measure of luck compete for the winning hand. Once confined to a handful of enthusiasts, Mahjong, the centuries-old Chinese tile game, is finding an enthusiastic following in Visakhapatnam, mirroring the surge in popularity it has witnessed in metros such as Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai. The rise has been swift enough for enthusiasts to form the Vizag Mahjong Club, which today has over 60 members and conducts regular learning sessions and practice games. What began as a handful of women drawn to the game out of curiosity has developed into a structured community with weekly meet-ups, beginner workshops and players progressing through different skill levels. “We began as a small WhatsApp group last October,” says Sweta Joshi, one of the founding members of the club. “Four of us decided to learn Mahjong and completed all seven levels. Hoping to introduce the game to Vizag, we announced a free introductory session at a café. Nobody turned up and we wondered if the city was ready for Mahjong at all,” she adds. That changed within months. The turning point came when Hyderabad-based Mahjong instructor Deepa Dodla, popularly known as Madam Mahjong, visited Visakhapatnam earlier this year to conduct a workshop.
The event drew attention on social media and curiosity began translating into registrations. “Our first formal beginner’s class in April sold out almost immediately,” says Sweta. “We had planned for three tables and every seat was taken. Since then we have been holding weekly sessions and the response has continued.” Interest has spread largely through social media, word of mouth and photographs shared by participants after each session. Many first-time players arrive believing Mahjong is an intimidating game reserved for seasoned card players, only to discover otherwise. “We have taught people who have never played cards in their lives,” says Sweta. “Sometimes that actually helps because they begin with an open mind instead of comparing it with other games. After the first three rounds, most people are comfortable with the basic flow.” A beginner’s session typically lasts about two hours, during which participants learn how to build the wall of tiles, arrange the rack, draw and discard correctly and recognise winning combinations. One game usually takes between 15 and 25 minutes. “The game also teaches you how to lose gracefully,” says Anita Nuthakki, among the city’s earliest Mahjong players. “You may have planned everything perfectly, but the tile you need may never come. Luck always has a role alongside strategy.” Anita first discovered Mahjong during a Diwali visit to Mumbai last year. “Friends were playing and I became curious. I learnt the game through online coaching and, when I returned to Vizag, I found others who shared the same interest,” she says.
The BriefWire