CULTURE

&ARCHITECTURE
OF CHETTINAD OF CHETTINAD
Prepared by : Mrs.S.H.R.Jawahar Benazir, School Of Architecture & Interior Design
SOCIAL LIFE OF NAGARATHARS SOCIAL LIFE OF NAGARATHARS
SALIENT FEATURES OF A CHETTINAD HOUSE
TRADITIONS IN ARTS & CRAFTS
SPACE, FUNCTION & CLIMATE RESPONSIVENESS
COLUMNS PARAPETS AND CORNICES COLUMNS, PARAPETS AND CORNICES
RAJAS PALACE IN KANADUKATHAN
NAGARATHAR HOUSES IN KARAIKUDI.
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C H E T T I N A D C H E T T I N A D is a region
of the Sivaganga district of
southern Tamil Nadu state,
India.
K A R A I K U D I K A R A I K U D I is known as
the capital of Chettinad,
which includes Karaikudi and
74 (traditionally its said as ( y
96) other villages.
Since Chettinad was strategically located on the
old trade route, the Chettiars to work as traders traders old trade route, the Chettiars to work as traders traders
and and moneylenders moneylenders in in Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
Singapore, Vietnam and other South-East Asian
countries. countries.
They prospered, returned home & built massive
homes made of Burmese teak that gave them
their name the Nattukotai Nattukotai (country (country fort) fort)
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their name, the Nattukotai Nattukotai (country (country fort) fort)
Chettiars Chettiars or Nagarathars Nagarathars..
Nagarathars are an exclusive clan, famous
for their enterprise, hard work and
t ib ti t i t contributions to society.
They earned money by crossing the seas
and their business acumen made them
f l d
Since the 1970s, many have become
professionals, entrepreneurs and industrialists.
successful and prosperous.
Their social life is Unique. At the apex of
the family household, is the Aachi Aachi the
While the Nagarathars still see their roots in
Chettinad, over the years, they have been moving
away from ancient traditions and customs.
senior most female in the house.
She controlled, if not every thing, the
finances of the household.
As a result of their traveling, the Chettiars
integrated diverse influences into their
traditions which contributed to their
uniqueness.
People started moving away from the
money lending business in favour of other
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y g
professions.
CHETTI NAD CUI SI NE
Chettinad is known for its Culinary delicacies
Traditionally, meals for Chettiars are served on a large banana
leaf with rice vegetables pickles papadams along with meat leaf with rice, vegetables, pickles, papadams, along with meat
dishes.
Chettiars are very superstitious with numbers, dishes have to be
d i dd b (i i di h l) served in odd numbers (i.e. seven or nine dishes per meal).
Although the Chettiars are well-known for their delicious
vegetarian preparations, their recipes include fish and meats
l also.
Chettinad can be considered as the master chefs who prepare
food that reflects the excellence of South Indian look for in the
Chettinad cuisine traditionally eaten on a
preparation and serving of food.
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Chettinad cuisine traditionally eaten on a
banana leaf (vaazhai ilai)
The The colorful colorful Rituals Rituals in in
Traditional Traditional Weddings Weddings
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C L A N C L A N T E M P L E S T E M P L E S
CUSTOMS & TRADITIONS
The community is organized around 9 clan temples. Each
member of the Chettiar community belongs to a clan and
each clan has its own temple.
A Y A N N A R A Y A N N A R S H R I N E S S H R I N E S
Ayannar is the Tamil God of everything ": rain maker, god
of children cattle villages earth nature and villagers He is of children, cattle, villages, earth, nature and villagers. He is
present in rural areas. His abodes are not necessarily
temples but outdoor shrines that are filled with terra-cotta
offerings offerings.
M A R I A M M A N M A R I A M M A N T E M P L E S T E M P L E S
Mariamman, the Goddess of smallpox, is the deity of life,
i ll f d hild Sh t hild d especially of women and children. She grants children and
cures them. The main festivals take place during the months
of March and April. There is great fervour during these
f i i i i h h d f d h i i h
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festivities, with thousands of devotees gathering in her
honour.
FESTI VAL S
D E E P A V A L I D E E P A V A L I - On Deepavali day, there is
a grand festive lighting of traditional lamps
b h hi ( h Ch i i ) Th l by the achis (the Chettiar wives). The lamps
are placed with other consecrated offerings
on banana leaves.
N A V A R A T R I N A V A R A T R I - - Navaratri is the
celebration of Goddesses Lakshmi Saraswati celebration of Goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati,
and Durga, the manifestations of Shakti
(Female Energy or Power). Customarily, the
Navaratri festival or Nine Nights festival is Navaratri festival or Nine Nights festival is
the culmination of nine days and nignts of
joyful celebrations when the women of a
h h ld ti l l l b t d
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household are particularly celebrated .
Temple Festival the 5 Temple Festival the 5
decorated gods,
Panchamurthi - the
annual procession in annual procession in
open bullock carts
V ik i Vi k i f Vaikasi Visakam carrying of
kavadi, Fire walking &
piercing the body with long
needles & sharp hooks
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needles & sharp hooks
Puravi Edupu Horse festival
beseeching the rain gods for their
Sevvai(Tuesday)Pongal-
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mercy
celebrated on first Tuesday of
pongal, the harvest festival
Athangudi tiles are
ATHANGUDI TI L ES
g
prepared by a unique
process in which local soil
along with cement, baby g y
jelly and synthetic oxides
are used.
The tiles are cast from the
locally available clay that is
first burnt and then glazed.
It is the play of base It is the play of base
colours with typical typical
conventional conventional flora flora and and line line- -
drawing drawing designs designs that makes drawing drawing designs designs that makes
them unique.
It is used for flooring, wall
cladding both in interiors
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cladding both in interiors
as well as exteriors.
STREET VI EWS
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ARTS & ARTS &
CRAFTS OF CRAFTS OF
CHETTINAD CHETTINAD
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The arts & crafts of Chettinad occupy a distinct
position in South Indian folklore.
W d W d ii il il b lli h t b lli h t ii Wood Wood carving, carving, silver silver embellishment, embellishment, woven woven saris, saris,
palm palm- -leaf leaf baskets, baskets, gold gold jewellery jewellery,, hand hand- -made made tiles, tiles,
architectural architectural styles, styles, refined refined cuisine cuisine and and egg egg plastering plastering
h i i ibl ib i h are among their more visible contributions to the
wide-ranging repertoire of Indian arts and crafts.
Chettinad Chettinad baskets baskets has a special attraction as they
Traditional Jewellery
have intricate patterns made with date-palm leaves.
Traditional thaali -
Marriage necklace
Intricate
wooden carved
doorframe
Twin Chettinad
baskets woven
doorframe
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baskets woven
in fine silver
Ornamental
wooden carving
Kandanghi sarees-
hand woven
Kidarams big Kidarams-big
water storage
vessel
Sombu
Palmyra
Sombu -
Brass vessel
Crafted
Spitoons-
y
leaf
Baskets
Kottans
f
aruvamanai
Echilpanickam
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&
Koodais
The The
Traditional
Wooden
Dolls Dolls
The
Chettiar &
The Achi
Use of Burmese teak and multi-color
tiles for cupboards.
A special feature of any chettinad house is the
decorative art of "Kolam Kolam" practiced everyday at
dawn on the cleansed threshold of the house dawn on the cleansed threshold of the house.
During auspicious days and especially on lifecycle
rituals like birth and marriage related
celebrations this art form on the floor takes on a
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celebrations, this art form on the floor takes on a
special meaning and is very elaborately done.
Nadu veetu kolam
ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD
Culture & Architecture Culture & Architecture
ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD ARCHITECTURE OF CHETTINAD
Most Chettiar mansions comprised of a
TYPICAL NAGARATHAR HOUSES
Most Chettiar mansions comprised of a
public reception area abutting the street.
The basic floor plan of a Chettinad house
consists of an outside verandah (thinnai) for
They later expanded vertically into two-
storeyed structures, and horizontally through
consists of an outside verandah (thinnai) for
guests,
with a room for conducting business on
one or both ends;
the addition of numerous halls and
courtyards that could accommodate guests at
marriages and other ceremonies.
one or both ends;
an interior courtyard to be used in
ceremonies, with a raised seating area at
one or both ends;
The rear hall served as the womens domain
where the women of the community reared
children, engaged in food preservation and
one or both ends;
a series of small double rooms opening off
the main courtyard, for storage, prayer and
sleeping and a small courtyard behind for
g g p
went about other domestic activities.
sleeping and a small courtyard behind for
cooking and for the women to socialize.
The Chettinad houses were usually tile-
f d ith ll t t d t t
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roofed with a small two-storeyed tower at
both ends of the front elevation.
Chettinad architecture
stands out for its
use of large spaces use of large spaces
in halls and
courtyards, ornate
embellishments like embellishments like
Belgian glasswork,
intricate woodwork,
spectacular ceramic spectacular ceramic
tiles, stone, iron and
wooden pillars like
thi l th t nothing else that can
be seen in this part
of the world.
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CHETTI NAD HOUSES
Chettinad houses are signs of successful joint
families that existed in the older days.
Buildings are divided into portions - -Kattu Kattu..
Each house in chettinad is made up of p
Mugappu, Valavu, Irandankattu, Moonankattu &
thottam
Mugappu Mugappu The reception; entrance of the house g pp g pp p
Valavu Valavu Living area of the house
In the valavu, there are 4 platforms that are
called as Pattalai, each at 4 corners of the ,
valavu.
Pattalai Pattalai Living halls of each family
Along with Pattalai, valavu consists of numerous
Nadai Nadai Corridor
Irandankattu randankattu used for dining / with
Mugappu Mugappu" held by pillars made of " held by pillars made of granite granite
Along with Pattalai, valavu consists of numerous
Irattai veedu.
Irattai Irattai veedu veedu rooms used by each family to
keep their belongings(2 rooms connected by a
Irandankattu randankattu used for dining / with
storerooms for storing crockery/kitchenware
Moonamkattu Moonamkattu Kitchen(adukala)
Thottam ttam Garden
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keep their belongings(2 rooms connected by a
single door)
Thottam ttam Garden
Stables, cowsheds etc.,
The magnificent mansions in
Chettinad are the finest examples
of combinations of vernacular of combinations of vernacular
architecture & amalgam amalgam of of South South
East East & & European European architecture architecture.
The source of inspiration derived The source of inspiration derived
from can be attributed to their
connection with Trade, Travel,
Te les T aditio a d Taste Temples, Tradition and Taste.
From birth to burial, the
Nagarathars observed numerous
i ceremonies.
All such functions were held
within their own premises as
f h i l i l b ildi
The The pillared pillared corridors corridors
around around the the ''valuvu valuvu''
many of their palatial buildings
have Marriage Marriage Halls Halls ( (Kalyana Kalyana
Kottagai Kottagai) ) and Banquet Banquet Hall Hall
around around the the valuvu valuvu
(courtyard), (courtyard), lead lead into into
individual individual rooms, rooms, each each
meant meant for for aa married married son son..
The The long long corridors corridors of of
second second kattu kattu- -used used for for
dining dining
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( (Bhojan Bhojan Hall Hall or or panthi panthi kattu kattu))..
dining dining
Their villages were constructed upon
precise precise and and sophisticated sophisticated rules rules of of urban urban
planning, planning, represented namely by orthogonal
The marble was brought from Italy, chandeliers
and teak from Burma, crockery from Indonesia,
crystals from Europe and wall-to-wall mirrors
streets and specific water management
systems, which are also directly linked to
the earlier Tamil traditions of rectangular rectangular
from Belgium.
The woodwork woodwork and and stonework stonework was inspired that
of the houses in France and other European gg
plots plots and and houses houses with with an an inner inner courtyard courtyard.
The houses, which evolved over two
centuries, are veritable palaces.
p
destinations.
The walls of Chettinad Nagarathars buildings
are embellished with Chettinad plaster whose , p
On the ground floor, the architecture is
typically Tamil, while one can see Western
influences on the higher floors.
p
other names are:
White Vellai Vellai poochchu poochchu;;
Egg Egg plastering plastering;; g
This reflects the Chettiar way of life, a
combination combination of of their their vibrant vibrant traditions traditions with with
the the global global economy economy.
gg gg p g p g;;
Muthu Muthu Poochchu Poochchu
Such walls were coated with several layers
comprising mixture of lime base, ground white
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the the global global economy economy. comprising mixture of lime base, ground white
seashells, liquid egg white, etc.
Thinnai
Kanakupullais room
2
nd
Courtyard 3
rd
Courtyard
1
st
Courtyard kitchen
TYPICAL TYPICAL PLAN PLAN OF OF AA CHETTINAD CHETTINAD HOUSE HOUSE
The The open open aired aired ' 'valavu valavu' ' (courtyard) (courtyard)
with with wooden wooden--pillared pillared corridors corridors on on each each
side side The The pillars pillars were were made made out out of of
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side side.. The The pillars pillars were were made made out out of of
Burmese Burmese Teak Teak..
The most important characteristic features of
Chettinad Buildings are
1) Cluster Houses with
16) Ed f h li d i h
1) Cluster Houses, with
2) (Mostly)East West orientation
3) High rise compound wall (front side)
4) Entrance Arch with stone steps
16) Edges of the passages are lined with cut
stone slabs known as vellaikkallu,
17) The stone pillars meant for supporting the
4) Entrance Arch with stone steps
5) Elevated plinth,
6) Tiled Portico,
7) Facade with stucco sculptures
roof
18) Sloping clay - tiled roofs
7) Facade with stucco sculptures,
8) Verandah Thinnai (two Platforms),
9) Wooden Pillars on it,
10) Hi h d f ith t d k 10) High door frame with ornate wood work,
11)Double main door,
12) pattalai pattalai or or pattasalai pattasalai (smaller version of the
hi i l f ) thinnai- platforms),
13) Open Courtyard (Mutram Valavu),
14) Second /third courtyard/s,
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15) Passage on all the four sides around the
Mutram, is called Suththupathi,
The color The color--glass arch flanked by pillars on glass arch flanked by pillars on
either sides either sides
19) Square flat tiles floor of the mutram
will have rectangle stone slabs on all the four
t b th b t f th f lli i
27) All h di d i ki l i
corners to bear the brunt of the falling rain
water,
20) Small single / double rooms on one side
i h id f h ( h h kk )
27) All the mediums used in making columns viz,
wood, stone, brick, and iron,
28) First floor facade is invariably adorned by
or either side of the passage (suththukkattu)
length wise,
21) Kitchen on the last kattu,
colonnade made of stone, wood, and bricks,
29) Window niches and arches above are decorated
with stucco work or paintings.
22) Staircase on one or two or all the four
corners,
23) Banquet Hall Bhojan Hall Panthi kattu on
30) Designed for collecting / harvesting rain water
(especially in courtyard (Mutram).
the side of the first kattu,
24) Floors laid with -Italian marble Black and
White, Granite & Athangudi tiles - Pookkallu,
25) Japanese and Spanish tiles were both used
for side walls
26) Beams, pillars, brackets, capitals, frames all
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) p p
made of Burma teak,
Chettinad Chettinad is rich in cultural
heritage, art and
architecture, and is well
known for its houses,
embellished with marble and
The The Reception Reception
area area --
Chettinad Chettinad
Burma teak, wide courtyards,
spacious rooms, and for its
18th century mansions.
House House with with
imported imported
Italian Italian Marble Marble
flooring flooring
Local legend tells that their
walls used to be polished
with a paste made out of
flooring flooring
p
egg egg- -whites whites to to give give a a smooth smooth
texture texture.
The The construction construction material, material,
Extensively Extensively
,,
decorative decorative items items and and
furnishings furnishings were mostly
imported from East Asian
yy
carved carved Wooden Wooden
Ceiling Ceiling of of a a
Chettinad Chettinad
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imported from East Asian
countries and Europe.
mansion mansion
Moonamkattu Moonamkattu the the kitchen kitchen courtyard courtyard The The Hall Hall
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The The Pillared Pillared Verandah Verandah
courtyard courtyard
RAJAS PALACE R
KANADUKATHAN KANADUKATHAN
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The Chettinad Rajas Palace, home of the
Chettiar family, was built in 1912.
The pillars around the courtyard are in The pillars around the courtyard are in
Burma teak, and there is picturesque
combination of scarlet tiles and sloping
woodwork The construction material decor woodwork. The construction material, decor
items and furnishings were mostly
imported, from east Asian countries and
l f E h th R j also from Europe where the Raja
Chettiyar had spread his sprawling
business .
Th d k d k The woodwork and stone work were
inspired by French and other European
architecture.
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The The elegant elegant wooden wooden bracketing bracketing
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Mugappu Mugappu -- belgium belgium glasswork glasswork
Imported Imported Italian Italian chandeliers chandeliers-- Unique Unique
decorated decorated wooden wooden columns columns
The The Central Central courtyard courtyard is is used used for for weddings weddings and and
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yy ff gg
religious religious ceremonies ceremonies..
The The third third courtyard courtyard
Entrance Entrance Entrance Entrance
Hall Hall
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The The elegant elegant Dining Dining Hall Hall
PARAPETS,
CORNICES &
PILLARS /
COLUMNS
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Use Use of of
animal animal
motifs motifs for for
brackets brackets
i t i t t d i t i t t d i hl i hl El b t d ili i i El b t d ili i i
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Wooden carvings Wooden carvings
intricate poetry on wood intricate poetry on wood-- richly richly
carved doorway carved doorway
Elaborate wooden ceiling in a mansion Elaborate wooden ceiling in a mansion
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Pillars/Columns Pillars/Columns
The The rich rich and and
intricate intricate detailing detailing
ff hh dd of of the the parapets parapets and and
cornices cornices across across the the
houses houses of of chettinad chettinad
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Parapets/Cornices Parapets/Cornices
The colorful Belgian Glasswork The colorful Belgian Glasswork
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Windows Windows
Stucco work was used on the interior & exterior walls; stucco
STUCCOWORK
sculptural work was employed on the entrance tower, faade,
railing wall & compound wall.
The icons of Gods/Goddesses- Gaja Lakshmi, Meenakshi Sundareswarar,Shiva j
Parvathi on Rishaba bull was often a repeated theme in Chettinad.
Images Images of of God, God, goddess, goddess, angels, angels, flora flora and and fauna fauna
ll d b i h di f
Gajalakshmi Gajalakshmi symbolizes symbolizes protection protection and and prosperity prosperity;;
are generally portrayed by using the medium of
stucco.
Shiva Parvathi pair represents happy family life.
Stucco Stucco Work Work--
Architecture Architecture
cum cum
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Stucco Stucco--work work
cum cum
Sculpture Sculpture
CLIMATE RESPONSIVENESS
MAIN MAIN COURTYARD COURTYARD Prime Prime place place for for
interaction interaction ;; Since, Chettinad is a hot
and semi-arid region, The climate was g ,
taken into consideration in the design
of their homes and the materials used.
The houses were built around an
East/West East/West central central courtyard courtyard which
brings shade, light, coolness and air to
the entire home. the entire home.
BUILDING BUILDING MATERIALS MATERIALS USED USED - - The
materials used for construction and the
essential components of this luxury ROOFING ROOFING - - The roof is terracotta tiled which helps essential components of this luxury
home are brick brick and and lime lime plaster plaster walls, walls,
terracotta terracotta tiled tiled roofs, roofs, stone stone pillars, pillars, teak teak
columns columns and and marble marble and and stone stone floors floors
ROOFING ROOFING - - The roof is terracotta tiled which helps
in shutting out the immense heat; as chettinad is a hot
and arid region.
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columns, columns, and and marble marble and and stone stone floors floors.
BIBLIOGRAPHY BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.wikipedia.org/
http://www.google.co.in/
http:// chettinad-chettinadarchitecture.blogspot.com
The Chettiar Heritage, S. Muthiah, Meenakshi Meyappan, Visalakshi
RRamaswamy
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