THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram The international airport will remain closed for five hours on Tuesday to facilitate the Alpasi Arattu procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
All domestic and international services will remain suspended from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in accordance with the centuries-old ritual. A total of six flights, including four international flights, have been rescheduled.
The airport suspends its services twice a year – in March-April for Painkuni festival and in October-November for the Arattu procession, when the Lord Vishnu brought from Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple on a palanquin to Shanghumugham beach, located just behind the airport, for a ritual bath.
The procession was allowed to cross the runway as it was its traditional route long before the airport was built in 1932.
Near the runway, yes an Arattu Mandapam where Lord Vishnu was kept to rest for a short time and again began a holy dip at the beach.
The god was accompanied by members of Travancore Royal family and staff of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and escorted by elephants, police band and police. The procession, which entered the airport grounds around 5:30 p.m., returned from a holy dip at 8 p.m. last night the same route.
The airport stops service twice a year – in March to April for the Painkuni festival and in October to November for the Arattu procession
All domestic and international services will remain suspended from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in accordance with the centuries-old ritual. A total of six flights, including four international flights, have been rescheduled.
The airport suspends its services twice a year – in March-April for Painkuni festival and in October-November for the Arattu procession, when the Lord Vishnu brought from Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple on a palanquin to Shanghumugham beach, located just behind the airport, for a ritual bath.
The procession was allowed to cross the runway as it was its traditional route long before the airport was built in 1932.
Near the runway, yes an Arattu Mandapam where Lord Vishnu was kept to rest for a short time and again began a holy dip at the beach.
The god was accompanied by members of Travancore Royal family and staff of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and escorted by elephants, police band and police. The procession, which entered the airport grounds around 5:30 p.m., returned from a holy dip at 8 p.m. last night the same route.
The airport stops service twice a year – in March to April for the Painkuni festival and in October to November for the Arattu procession
