Fishing activity came to a standstill as fishermen refrained from venturing into the sea in memory of their kin who were swallowed by the tsunami.
At Velankanni and Keechankuppam in Nagapattinam district, which was the worst hit, special prayers and condolence meetings were held and floral tributes were paid to the victims. Similar meetings were also held in Cuddalore district, which also bore the brunt of the tsunami.
In Chennai, various political parties and fishermen associations held rallies and silent marches at Srinivaspuram in Mylapore and various parts of North Chennai to pay homage to the victims.
Fishermen observed the day as "Black day" and tied black flags to their anchored boats.
While a few NGOs dedicated several permanent shelters to the affected families today, the state government also announced that the final list of the beneficiaries of the permanent housing scheme would be announced by February 2007.