Operations at Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will remain suspended on Saturday due to the ‘Alpasi Arattu’ procession. Flight operations will be disrupted from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The procession for Alpasi Arattu will be taken out from the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. “The runway of Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is closed twice a year for the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple procession,” the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport said in a post on X.
“The practice of taking out a procession through the airport to reach Shangumugham Beach for the holy bath of the idols began centuries ago. This ritual has continued even after the establishment of the airport in 1932, ensuring that the culture and traditions of the region remain intact,” the post said. The airport has issued a passenger advisory, suggesting passengers to check with the respective airlines for updated flight timings.
