Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) announced a temporary suspension of flight services from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for five hours on April 21. The suspension, scheduled from 4 pm to 9 pm, aims to accommodate the traditional ‘Painkuni Arattu’ procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which crosses the airport’s runway. TIAL assured that the updated flight timings are available with the respective airlines, facilitating passenger convenience.
The airport’s runway closure aligns with the age-old custom of the temple procession’s route, continuing through to Shangumugham beach for the ceremonial bathing of the idols. Despite the airport’s establishment in 1932, this centuries-old tradition persists, with flight operations being suspended twice a year during the Painkuni festival in March/April and the Alpassi festival in October/November, as signaled by a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen).
During the Painkuni Festival, significant rituals unfold, including the placement of large fiberglass figures depicting the Pandavas at the temple’s eastern entrance, a customary act to invoke blessings from Indra, the Rain God. The festival extends over ten days, featuring daily rituals and culminating in the grand aarattu procession to Shanghumugham Beach, where the deities are ritually immersed in the sea. Notably, male members of the Royal Family of Travancore, including the king, partake in escorting the deities during this ceremonial procession.
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