A centuries-old ritual sees Kerala’s capital city airport halt operations twice a year to honor a divine procession.
In an extraordinary blend of tradition and modernity, Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in Kerala, India, suspends its flight operations twice annually to accommodate a sacred procession from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
On April 11, 2025, the airport will pause all flights from 4:45 PM to 9:00 PM to facilitate the ‘Painkuni Arattu’ procession, a ritual that involves carrying the temple’s deity to the nearby Shangumugham Beach for a ceremonial bath. This practice, which predates the airport’s establishment in 1932, has been preserved meticulously over the years. When the airport was constructed, the then Travancore King Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma decreed that the facility would operate for 363 days a year, reserving two days exclusively for the deity’s passage.
The airport issues a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) ahead of these events, ensuring that airlines and passengers are informed of the temporary closure. This harmonious coexistence of spiritual tradition and aviation logistics underscores the region’s deep respect for its cultural heritage.
