Overview
- Airport officials paused operations Thursday from about 4:45 pm to 9 pm.
- The Painkuni Arattu carried the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple’s idols across the runway to Shanghumughom Beach for a sea bath ritual.
- Flights resumed only after staff inspected, cleaned and declared the runway safe for use.
- The parade featured caparisoned elephants, traditional drums and members of the Travancore royal family.
- The airport follows this biannual practice dating to 1932 and issues advance notices to pilots before each closure.