Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 8)

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Similarly, Nakarattar businessmen constructed Vitutis in every major place of business throughout South-East Asia: in Colombo, Rangoon, Penang, Singapore, and so on.. Gradually Chettiar families came to build their permanent residences on the coral Merchant street of which only a few are visible today. After the decline of trade activities, money exchange and lending, the Viduthis are used as lodging houses for Nagarathars bachelors who study or work in Chennai. Today, these Viduthis act more vibrantly as a venue for temple based festivities and rituals, and its related Community interaction and Conglomeration during Masi magam, krithigai, navarathri, ammavasai. During these festivals, food is cooked here and served for the devotees like that at the Nagara Viduthis at Chettinad. Though trade and trade based money opperations do not exist now, the tradition and culture of temple festivals and rituals continue today giving these Viduthis a significant place in maintaining a continuum with their traditions.

The vernacular vocabulary of the built environment of Viduthis at Chennai on Coral Merchant street: The Devakottai Nagarathar Viduthi was the first to be built in Coral Merchant street by the Phazhaya Thandayuthapani Trust. This Viduthi Continues the same spatial Vocabulary as the Viduthis at Chettinad. The first Zone has the thinnai and low paved area. The second zone has the pillared double floor height hall for ritualistic and Ceremonial activities. The third Zone has courtyard for Services of kitchen and dining. Whereas in Chettinad, a Viduthi is attached to the village temple; in Chennai the shrine to Lord Muruga is accommodated Within the Viduthi in the ground floor adjacent to the Central hall. Therefore, during festivals and rituals the deity is brought out of the shrine to the aisle space and left there for the devotees' darshan, who assemble in the Central double floor height hall. AS the religious and associated functions areaccommodated in the ground floor, the lodging is relegated to the upper floor.
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