Flight services at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be suspended for five hours on April 21 to accommodate the ‘Painkuni Arattu’ procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple crossing the runway. Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd. (TIAL) announced the suspension from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The centuries-old tradition sees the temple procession passing through the runway to reach Shangumugham beach for idol bathing. This ritual, dating back to the royal era, continues despite airport management changes. The airport follows this practice twice yearly during the Alpassi and Painkuni festivals.
Thiruvananthapuram Airport Halts Flights for ‘Painkuni Arattu’ Procession
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