Where the divine path crosses the airport road: Kerala airport to suspend flights for 5 hours on November 9

Flight services from the international airport here will be suspended for five hours on November 9 to pave way for the ‘Alpassi Arattu’ procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple here, TIAL said on Saturday.

The annual procession was traditionally taken on a route that crossed the runway. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) said that flight services will be suspended from 4 pm to 9 pm on November 9. It said that updated flight timings are available from the relevant airlines.

“The runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport remains closed twice a year for the procession of the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple to pass through. The practice of the procession crossing the present road to reach Shangumugham beach for the holy bathing of the idols started centuries ago. “This tradition continues even after the airport was established in -1932, we ensure that the culture and traditions of the region remain intact, “said TIAL in a statement. release.

The airport has been suspending operations and rescheduling flights twice a year for decades to accommodate the shrine’s twice-yearly, hundred-year-old ceremonial procession through the runway.

When the airport was built here, the then King of Travancore Sree Chithira Thirunal made it clear that the facility would be open to the public 363 days a year and two days for Lord Padmanabha, the revered deity of the royal family, historians said.

The practice of the royal era has continued even after the Adani Group took over the management of the terminal.

The airport issues a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) twice a year before the runway is closed during the biannual Alpassi festival in October-November and the Painkuni festival in March-April.