Airport in Kerala to remain shut for 5 hours on Nov 9 for procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Flights at Kerala’s international airport will be suspended for five hours on November 9 to accommodate the ‘Alpassi Arattu’ procession from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) said on Saturday (November 2).

The annual procession takes a route that crosses the airport runway. TIAL confirmed that flight operations would be halted from 4 pm to 9 pm and advised passengers to check with their airlines for updated flight schedules.

According to TIAL, “The runway at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport remains closed twice a year for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple procession to pass through.”

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The historic route leads to Shangumugham Beach, where the idols are ceremonially bathed. The tradition, which has continued for centuries, remains even after the airport was established in 1932, which reflects the region’s rich cultural heritage. For decades, the airport pauses operations twice annually to allow the centuries-old ceremonial procession to proceed unhindered.

Historical accounts indicate that when the airport was built, the then Travancore King Sree Chithira Thirunal stipulated that it would be available for public use for 363 days a year, reserving two days for Lord Padmanabha, the royal family’s deity.

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This royal tradition remains in place, even under the management of the Adani Group. TIAL issues a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) twice a year before the runway closures during the bi-annual Alpassi festival in October-November and the Painkuni festival in March-April.

Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident of a fire accident during a Theyyam performance at a temple near Neeleswaram late in the night left 154 people injured, eight of them seriously, when firecrackers stored in the vicinity exploded, police said on October 29.

The incident occurred at Anjoottanbalam Veererkavu temple near Neeleswaram in this district. Three persons including two temple committee officials were arrested in connection with the incident.

The arrested were identified as Bharathan and Chandrashekharan, the secretary and president of the temple committee, and Rajesh P, the person who set off firecrackers during the time of the accident, the police said.

The case was registered under the Explosive Substance Act and various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Earlier, Kasaragod District Police chief D Shilpa announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the fire accident.

The district administration said that the additional divisional magistrate has been directed to carry out an inquiry separately into the incident and submit a report.

State ministers K Rajan and P Rajeeve assured that the government would carry out a “serious and comprehensive probe” into the incident and would take necessary steps to check the recurrence of similar mishaps.

Rajeeve, who visited the accident site, said necessary action would be taken based on a report to be submitted by the district administration in this regard.

The firecrackers were burst inside the temple premises without permission, and the accident took place due to its careless handling and negligence of the accused, police said.

The incident occurred as hundreds of people, including women and children, had gathered to get a glimpse of the Theyyam performance at the shrine.