Flight operations halted to facilitate Painkuni Arat procession

The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport authorities here on Thursday paused the aircraft movements for a while to facilitate the centuries-old ritual of the annual Painkuni Arat procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

On the final day of the 10-day festival, idols of Lord Padmanabhaswamy, Narasimha Moorthy and Krishna Swamy were carried in a ceremonial procession from the temple to Shanghumughom Beach, about six km away. The route passed directly across the airport’s runway, reflecting its origins under the erstwhile Travancore royal family, which built the airport in 1932.

Accompanied by caparisoned elephants, traditional percussion and members of the royal lineage, the procession paused briefly near the runway before continuing to the Arabian Sea for the ritualistic bath. The return journey unfolded after dusk in a torch-lit procession, marking the close of the festival. Flight operations resumed only after the runway was inspected, cleaned and cleared for safe use. The temporary pause was a part of long standing local practice. The festival also marked the symbolic purification of the temple’s deities through immersion in the sea.