Flights halted at Thiruvananthapuram Airport for centuries-old temple ritual

Flight services at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport were suspended for nearly five hours on Thursday to facilitate the revered Painkuni Arattu procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, authorities said.

Operations were halted at around 4:45 pm and resumed at 9 pm after the ceremonial procession returned to the temple and the runway was cleared and declared fit for air traffic, officials from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) confirmed.

The temporary suspension of flight services is a long-standing tradition observed twice every year to allow the centuries-old temple procession to pass through the airport runway en route to Shankumugham Beach for ritual ceremonies.

The procession commenced around 5 pm , featuring members of the erstwhile Travancore royal family, a large gathering of devotees, caparisoned elephants, mounted police, and a police band . Moving along the airport tarmac amid traditional music, the procession carried the utsava vigrahas (idols) of Lord Padmanabha, Narasimha Moorthy, and Krishna Swami .

Upon entering the airport premises, the idols were placed briefly at the “arattu mandapam” near the runway before being taken to the beach for the ceremonial holy dip. Following rituals at Shankumugham Beach, the idols were brought back in a torch-lit procession , marking the conclusion of the festival.

In a statement shared on social media, TIAL said it was “honoured to witness this revered tradition” , highlighting Kerala’s rich cultural heritage.

The practice of the procession crossing the airport grounds dates back centuries and has continued uninterrupted even after the airport was established in 1932. Historical accounts note that the then Travancore ruler, Sree Chithira Thirunal, had stipulated that the airport would remain open for 363 days a year, reserving two days for the deity .

The airport continues to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) ahead of the bi-annual closures during the Painkuni and Alpassi festivals, ensuring coordination between religious observances and aviation operations . The tradition continues even under the management of the Adani Group.