About NAGARATHARS | UPSC Current Affairs

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Context: Nagarathars, members of a trader community, from various parts of the globe thronged Nattarsankottai for the Sevvai Pongal.

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Nagarathar is a Chettiar community in Shaivism that originated in Naganadu a small island in Sri Lanka
Later they were brought by Pallavas to Kanchi and they lived there for more than 1000 years.
But they couldn’t live a satisfying life due to the king's behavior so they migrated to Kaveripoompattinam under the Chola kingdom.
in Kaveripoompattinam, the chola kings gave lots of benefits to the Nangarhar and nagarthars increased the economy of the Chola and helped them a lot during the war times financially.
Due to some cruel behavior of Cholas and natural calamities, nagarthars migrated to the Pandya kingdom.
Pandyas offer a dry land area for the nagrathar community that is the present Chettinad.
Nagarathars are a prominent mercantile Tamil vanigar caste in Tamil Nadu, South India.
They are a community with very rich cultural heritage, known for their philanthropy; building temples and schools, and maintaining them throughout India and Asia.
Chettiars are extremely intelligent and have strong values.
They were able to travel to foreign countries by boat, train, and by foot and set up businesses.
They have built huge mansions, many with gorgeous tiles imported from Italy in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Even today, Nagarathars have formed Sangams in different countries where they meet, preserve their culture, the Tamil Language.
Now Nagarathars live in 52 countries.