Thiruvananthapuram Airport to be closed for 4 hours on April 11 for Padmanabhaswamy Temple Painkuni Arattu procession

Thiruvananthapuram: The flight services at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will be suspended from 4.45 pm to 9 pm on April 11 to enable the smooth continuation of the holy Painkuni Arattu procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple through the runway.

"The updated timings of the flights are available with the respective airlines. Our team is committed to ensuring your journey remains seamless," a release from the Adani Group said.

The Airport is closed twice a year to allow the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple procession to pass through. This tradition, which involves taking the route to Shangumugham Beach for the idols' ritual bath, dates back centuries.

The magnificent Aarattu ceremony, the holy bath in the sea for the deities, is the primary attraction of the locals.

A large procession will start from the temple and proceeds to the Shanghumugham Beach, with the head of the Travancore Royal Family leading the procession, sword in hand.

Thousands of faithful devotees will flock the streets to view this unique and historic sight, as deities will be escorted by caparisoned elephants, mounted police and columns of armed police.