The flight services at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram Airport will be briefly suspended on October 23 from 4 pm to 9 pm. According to an advisory issued by the airport authority, the choice to halt services has been taken so as to facilitate the Alpassi Arattu Procession by Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The up to date timings of the flights can be found with the respective airways. “Your understanding is greatly appreciated,” the advisory added.
Reason behind suspension of flight services
This century-old Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Vishnu temple) was historically managed by the temple’s heirs, former Travancore ruler Marthanda Varma for greater than 1,000 years. The airport suspends its flight services yearly at the time of the normal Arattu procession (Arattu- ritualistic tub of the deity).
During this procession, the idol of Lord Vishnu is carried to Shankumugham Beach which is simply behind the airport in Thiruvananthapuram. On this event, the deity is given a ‘holy dip’ twice a yr, even earlier than the airport was established in 1932.
Before closing it for the bi-annual pageant, the airport points a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM), because it takes place twice a yr, first between March and April for the Panguni pageant after which in October and November to have fun Alphasy.
How procession is carried out?
For the procession, the clergymen in Garuda Vahanas together with a whole lot of individuals and 4 elephants decked with wealthy ornamental coverings, carry Utsav Vigraha of deities Padmanabhaswamy, Narasimha Moorthy, and Krishna Swami and stroll by means of this lengthy runway to Shankumugham Beach. After the dip on this seashore, the idols will be taken again to the temple with the procession marked with conventional torches, marking the conclusion of this pageant.
(With inputs from ANI)
