Ahead of celebration for the “Alpassi Arattu”, the operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will remain suspended for five hours today. The flight operation will be affected from 4:00 pm in afternoon till 9:00 pm in the evening.
The procession for “Alpassi Arattu” will be carried out from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport posted on its X handle that, “The runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport remains closed twice a year for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple procession to pass through”.
The Airport stated that, “The practice of the procession taking the airport path to reach the Shangumugham Beach for the holy bath of the idols began centuries ago. This ritual continues even after the Airport was established in 1932, ensuring that the culture and traditions of the region remains intact”.
The practice of the procession taking the airport path to reach the Shangumugham Beach for the holy bath of the idols began centuries ago. This ritual continues even after the Airport was established in 1932, ensuring that the culture and traditions of the region remains intact.
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The airport authority stops its operation twice every year, so that the centuries-old procession could use the route it used to follow centuries ago.
When the airport was built, King of Travancore Sree Chithira Thirual issued an order that airport will be available for public use for 365 days in the year. Making the airport available for the the procession to pass through.
Even when Adani Group, took over the authority, it halts its operation for particular time. The Airport’s runway remains closed twice the year for Sree Padmanabhaswamy Swamy temple procession to pass through.
The airport issued a passenger advisory, suggesting them to check updated flights timing with respective airline.
