Flight services at Thiruvananthapuram's International Airport will experience a temporary suspension for a duration of five hours, specifically from 4 pm to 9 pm on Monday. This interruption is to facilitate the traditional "Arattu" procession associated with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple and is in accordance with a long-standing practice connected to the Travancore Royals.
The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) has officially confirmed that flight services will be put on hold during the hours mentioned above to ensure the smooth passage of the Alpassi Arattu procession associated with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple.
Due to this ceremonial event, the services of four flights have been rescheduled, as announced by the airport authorities. After the procession concludes and returns to the temple, the airport's runway will undergo cleaning and inspection procedures. Flight operations will only resume after these essential post-procession tasks have been completed.
For many decades, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has adhered to the practice of temporarily pausing its operations and rescheduling flights twice a year. This is done to accommodate the biannual centuries-old ceremonial procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple as it traverses the airport's runway.
The origin of this temple procession practice dates back centuries. It involves the procession making its way to the Shangumugham beach for the sacred bathing of the temple idols. Remarkably, this tradition has persisted since the establishment of the airport in 1932.
Historical records indicate that when the airport was constructed in its current location, the then Travancore King, Sree Chithira Thirunal, ensured that the facility would be open to the public for 363 days of the year and reserved for two days of the year for Lord Padmanabha, the titular deity of the royal family.
Even after the management of the airport transitioned to the Adani Group, this centuries-old royal-era ritual has been continued without interruption.
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