Thiruvananthapuram: Flight operations at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be suspended for five hours on October 20 to allow the traditional Alpassi Arattu procession of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple to pass across the runway, airport authorities said on Sunday.
The temporary suspension will remain in force from 4 pm to 9 pm, according to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL). Airlines have updated their schedules to accommodate the interruption, and passengers have been advised to check the revised timings with their respective carriers.
The suspension is part of a decades-old tradition under which airport operations are paused twice a year to facilitate the ceremonial procession associated with the temple. The ritual involves taking the temple idols to Shangumugham beach for a ceremonial holy bath.
The practice dates back centuries and has continued even after the airport was established in 1932. It is linked to the historical relationship between the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the erstwhile Travancore royal family.
Flight operations suspended from 4 pm to 9 pm
TIAL said flight services would remain suspended for five hours on October 20 to facilitate the Alpassi Arattu procession.
The temporary closure means aircraft movements will not take place during the specified period. Airlines have been asked to adjust their schedules, and passengers may experience changes to departure or arrival timings.
In its statement, the airport operator said updated flight timings were available through the respective airlines.
Passengers scheduled to travel on October 20 should verify their flight status before leaving for the airport. Those with connecting flights or onward travel arrangements may also need to check whether the revised schedules affect their plans.
The suspension is a planned interruption rather than an emergency closure. It is intended to ensure that the centuries-old religious procession can follow its traditional route across the airport runway without conflicting with flight operations.
What is the Alpassi Arattu procession?
The Alpassi Arattu procession is a ceremonial event associated with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, one of Kerala’s most prominent Hindu shrines.
During the ritual, the temple’s idols are taken in a procession towards Shangumugham beach, where the ceremonial holy bath takes place. The route traditionally passes across the area now occupied by the airport runway.
The event forms part of the temple’s religious calendar and reflects the longstanding customs associated with the shrine.
The procession is held under a tradition that predates the construction of the airport. Rather than changing the ceremonial route, airport authorities continue to accommodate the event by temporarily suspending operations.
The practice demonstrates how the airport’s operational schedule is adjusted to preserve a religious custom that has continued for generations.
A tradition dating back centuries
The procession’s passage across the runway is rooted in the history of the former princely state of Travancore and its relationship with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The Travancore royal family maintained a close association with the shrine, whose presiding deity, Lord Padmanabha, held a central place in the former kingdom’s traditions.
Historians have noted that the ritual continued after the airport was built in 1932. According to accounts of the tradition, the then Travancore ruler, Sree Chithira Thirunal, made it clear that the airport would be open to the public for 363 days each year, with two days reserved for Lord Padmanabha.
The arrangement reflected the religious significance of the temple and the ruler’s traditional position as a devotee of the deity.
Although the airport has since become an important part of Kerala’s transport network, the ceremonial procession continues to follow its historic route.
Airport suspends operations twice a year
The runway closure is not a one-off arrangement. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport pauses flight operations twice each year to accommodate the temple’s biannual Arattu processions.
The temporary suspension allows the procession to cross the runway and continue towards Shangumugham beach.
Airport authorities reschedule flights around the ritual, balancing the needs of commercial aviation with the continuation of the religious tradition.
The arrangement requires coordination between the airport operator, airlines, temple authorities and other relevant agencies. Advance planning helps airlines revise schedules and inform passengers about changes.
The five-hour suspension on October 20 is linked to the Alpassi Arattu procession. The airport’s recurring accommodation of the event has made the runway closure a distinctive feature of operations at Thiruvananthapuram.
Tradition continues under Adani Group management
The ritual has continued even after the Adani Group took over the management of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.
The airport’s management change did not bring an end to the arrangement for the ceremonial procession. Operations continue to be adjusted twice annually to allow the religious event to pass through the runway area.
The practice reflects the historical circumstances surrounding the airport’s location and the route used by the temple procession.
For the airport, the planned interruption requires operational adjustments, including changes to flight schedules. For the temple, it allows the established ceremonial route to remain in use.
The continuation of the tradition illustrates how a historic religious custom has been maintained alongside the functioning of a modern international airport.
Passengers advised to check revised flight timings
With the five-hour suspension scheduled for October 20, passengers travelling through Thiruvananthapuram should check for changes to their flight schedules.
TIAL has said updated timings are available from the respective airlines. Passengers should rely on direct airline notifications and booking information for the latest details about departures and arrivals.
Those planning airport transfers, connecting journeys or other arrangements should allow for possible schedule changes.
The suspension is scheduled to run from 4 pm to 9 pm, but individual flight timings may be adjusted around the operational interruption. Passengers should therefore confirm their specific flight details rather than assuming that every service will operate at its originally planned time.
A historic ritual continues alongside aviation
The October 20 suspension highlights the longstanding connection between Thiruvananthapuram’s airport and the traditions of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The Arattu procession has continued across the historic route for centuries, including after the airport was established in 1932. The practice has been maintained through planned pauses in flight operations twice a year.
For travellers, the five-hour suspension means checking updated flight information and accounting for possible changes to their journeys. For the temple and its devotees, it allows a centuries-old ceremonial tradition to continue.
As TIAL prepares for the October 20 interruption, the airport will once again adjust its operations to accommodate the Alpassi Arattu procession while ensuring that services can resume after the scheduled closure.