Thiruvananthapuram Airport pauses flights for 'Painkuni Arattu' to cross runway
India
On Thursday, April 2, 2026 evening, Thiruvananthapuram Airport in Kerala hit pause on all flights from 4:45pm to 9pm so the iconic Painkuni Arattu procession from Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple could cross the runway.
The event saw the Travancore royal family, devotees, elephants, and a marching band escorting temple idols to Shankumugham Beach for a traditional sea dip.
Flights resumed by night.
Kerala ritual predates 1932 airport
This unique ritual has been happening since centuries ago, and it continued after the airport was built in 1932.
He set aside two days every year just for this ceremony, and it's still going strong as a proud piece of Kerala's cultural heritage.