Pati (Phalcha)

 

Introduction

Among the buildings that compose the Newar-style canon, there is the ubiquitous public shelter, conveniently designated by the Sanskrit term dharamasala, literally 'charitable asylum'. It is an important architectural and institutional feature of town and country.

The most rudimentary form of dharamasala in Nepal is called pati in Nepali and phale or phalcha in Newari, the smallest and most widely distributed form. It is an arcade-like open structure that can be compared as Nepali version of Greeks' Stoa. It is usually a small rectangular building comprising a raised brick platform sheltered by a pitched roof and floored with planks, with a solid brick rear wall, and a open front of post and lintel construction. Some patis are freestanding; others are mere lean-tos, supported by a large building.

In villages and beside trails, patis serves as simple overnight shelters for travellers and pilgrims. It serves the closely interwoven Newari society living in its neighborhood, as a meeting place for games or social and religious gatherings.

History of Development

The concept of pati has its origin rooted in India. The texts on Vaastu Sastra describe the building form of public resthouses. The first reference to Nepali Public resthouse dates back to Lichchhavi period. Stone inscriptions mention their existence or their construction. However, no building form of that period has survived. It can only be assumed that pati have not changed their appearance very much since.

Only in the period between the end of the sixteenth to the middle of eighteenth century, inscriptions relating to some patis that they were built on foundations of older structure are encountered. Further more possible proof of their age, is their association with very old structures nearby such as waterspouts or well. About other patis, there is almost no historical information or explanation of their foundation. Never the less, if building details and carvings are compared with structures of a similar age; it is possible that some are between 400 and 500 years old.

Social Ambience

A central tradition of religious practice in South Asia is the shelter and accommodation of pilgrims and wayfarers. People wishing to acquire religious merit and, no doubt, local esteem, have financed the construction of rest house. These public resthouses were generally donated by wealthy individuals, religious groups or families who were also responsible for their unkeep and maintenance.

The principle function of patis is shelter, a place for people to rest, work and socialize, and for the wayfarer to pass the night. The establishment of a pati once implied an endowment for the performance of a ritual. The arcaded space served for the performance of music. A more general answer to the inquiry about the specific function of a pati is 'dapha', which more refers to Newar drum music or 'bhajan' which refers to a more modern style of music includes the use of a harmonium. Therefore, patis are made for performance of music.

Patis categorized as public and private in terms of ownership. Private patis are those belonging to gutis. The patis around temples are used for performance of music and performance of rituals and feasts. These day it provides space for markets, like teashop, vegetable market, etc.

In Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur hundreds of patis are to be found and at least a dozen can be located in every village in the Kathmandu valley. They far outnumber the temples. They are found in association with all major shrines, at all main intersections an alongside every trail, often situated close to a source of water. However, patis are not only found in settlements, but also occur widely at the approaches to the settlements. Moreover, dotted throughout the countryside neat roads, paths and cross roads, or near wells, ponds streams and bridges, as well as being located along side temples and shrines.

There are no patis such as a Hindu pati or a Buddhist pati. Community patis has holy image installed on the niche of rear wall. The images are usually of clan god and goddesses. Buddha, Indrayani, Narayana, and Krishna are images that are generally found.

In Patan, at fourteen patis fragments of the chariot of Machhendra Nath like shafts or axles are kept. These fragments are distributed among the communities as the chariot is newly built and faulty components are replaced by new ones.

Machhendra Nath patis

There are altogether 14 patis where accessories of chariot of Red Machhendra Nath are kept. They are at Piche, Capah, Sakva, Dalachhen, Pilachhen, Thati, Saugah, Yanamugal, Jawalakhel, etc. The one at Piche stores a shaft of the chariot and at Jawalakhel stores a long wooden part of the chariot. Hence, the patis are designed to accommodate these accessories and carry out gutis activities.

Types of Pati

Rectangular Pati

The most common shape of pati is rectangular. They are constructed in post and lintel system; usually have odd number of bays. The longest pati seen is Kawale Kotpati at Mangal Bazzar, has 32 bays. The shorter side is either single or double bayed. The sides of the pati open in one direction to four direction. So, rectangular patis can again be classified as one, two, three and four open-faced patis. The most common is the pati with three open sides.

L - Shaped Pati

The L - shaped pati is also one of the commonly found pati. It is generally the lean to pati resting on two side of building, has one bay width. In temple complex and water spout, the paits at corner of boundary are L - shaped.

T - Shaped Pati

The T - shaped pati is rare in the valley, is usually freestanding with rear elevation of solid wall. The openings are on all three direction. The example of this kind is Nakabhi at Nakabahil, Patan.

U - Shaped Pati

The U - shaped pati is another rare kind of pati. It may be freestanding or lean to. The pati at Patan Dhoka in front of Ganesh temple and the pati at Kankeshwori in Kathmandu are the examples of U - shaped pati.

Curved Pati

There is only one curved shaped pati, which is located at Raj Rajeshwori ghat at Pashupati. The pati is used for performing ritual for the dead ones after the death in Pashupati ghat.

It is seen that patis have imparted their names to settlements. The circular pati at Chhetra Pati is one example. It is believed that this pati looked like umbrella (chattra). Another example is Bhimsen pati, etc. Square patis are generally mandaps, another type of public building.

The Construction

The layout of each pati is almost identical and consists of a rectangular brick platform raised about 60 cm and covered with wooden floorboards. As it is sited to overlook the access routes, ponds and streams, the front is always open and of simple post and lintel construction; or often than not, the sides are also open and follow the same construction. The rare elevation is solid brick wall, which is partly returned along the side wall about 30 cm, to act as a brace for the rear wall.

A simple pitched roof projects beyond the walls to the front and sides. It is carried by simple struts where as the roof barely projects over the rear wall. Across the return walls a skirt roof runs to protect the wall bases. The eaves of the purlined roof rest either directly on the rear and side walls or the post and lintel construction, or on a sleeper wall between the ground floor. The attic whereby an intermediate storey is created, the space of which, however, is usually inaccessible. The intermediate low room moreover seems to serve as a mere external design feature since, as in the case with other buildings, the roof is preferably not placed directly above the functional room.

In the interior, set into the rear wall, are niches for idols or oil lamps. The altars mainly dedicated to Ganesh. The roof of a freestanding pati is a pitched saddle roof, simple hipped roof, or lean-to roof (pati abutting another building). Mainly brick and timber are used in constructing patis. Jhingatis are used for roofing and stones are frequently used.

Conclusion

Pati is the simplest form of public building in Newar civilization. It is a place of social gatherings, shelter to travellers, and a place to conduct religious and cultural activities. So, pati is an important part of Kathmandu valley. Its architecture is also superb; it signifies the perfection of newari architecture.

The condition of these important elements of landscape is miserable these days. In Patan, it is assumed that 50 to 60% of patis have disappeared and 5% of the remain can only display the character of pati. Tall structures or patis of concrete or steel replaces the rest.