Lord Vishnu Procession: All Flights Of This Airport Are Closed For 10 Hours Twice A Year! You Will Be Surprised To Know The Reason: 2 times a year all flights at the airport are stopped for religious reasons, not for technical reasons. This is because, on this day, Vishnu’s procession leaves from the Padmaswamy temple in Kerala.
Airport busyness is nothing new. But twice a year, one of the busiest airports in the country is closed not for any technical reason, but only for religious reasons. Due to the colorful procession of the presiding deity of the Padmaswamy temple in Kerala, as per the rule of thousands of years, it was decided to close the international airport in Thiruvananthapuram. This busiest airport is closed for 5 hours on Tuesday from 4 pm to 9 pm. But not once, but twice a year. You will be surprised to know why this happens. Twice a year all flights at the airport are suspended for religious reasons, not for any technical reason. This is because, on this day, Vishnu’s procession leaves from the Padmaswamy temple in Kerala. The deity rests on the runway of the airport during the procession. Following thousands of years of tradition, Lord Vishnu’s procession returns to the airport runway after bathing on the beach. This is why Thiruvananthapuram Airport is closed twice a year for 5 hours and 10 hours.
Traditional procession
This procession of the state is a hundred-year tradition! This temple procession has been celebrated for approximately 5 thousand years. This procession was not stopped even during the corona epidemic. This procession was held in the month of March 2020 with great fanfare. Even hundreds of people participated in this bath. An advance notice was issued at the airport for this grand celebration. Last November 1 was that day. No flights operated from the airport from 4 pm to 9 pm on Tuesday. All domestic and international flights were suspended for the time being for this centuries-old religious event. A total of six flights, including four international flights, were rescheduled within five hours, airport authorities said.
Vishnu’s procession at the airport
This airport in Kerala was closed for flight services twice. The first time is for the Penkuni festival in March-April and the second time is for the Araattu procession in October-March-March. In the Arthur Yatra, Lord Vishnu is taken in a palanquin from the Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple to the Shangmugham beach located just behind the airport. There the deity is bathed in the sea.
Controversy
Such a colorful and traditional Yatra has been held at this temple for many centuries. The deity is transported through this path. The airport was built on this route in 1932. At that time, there is no end to the debate about how the Lord will be taken out to the sea in a palanquin. At that time, it was said that the airport road will never be obstructed during the procession. This rule has been followed for centuries.
Aarattu Mandaram is located near the runway. Where Lord Vishnu is left to rest for a short time. After resting here again taken to the beach. This bath is considered very holy. When the ceremony is over, it is brought back in a palanquin on the same road.
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple has a connection with the Royal family of Travancore. There are 5 herds of elephants in this procession. The elephants have silk umbrellas on them and the temple workers walk with flags in their hands in this royal procession. The members of the royal family are also there. Police security is also visible. This procession comes out in grand style to the beat of drums and bells. Festival idols of Lord Padmanabhaswamy, Narasimha Murthy and Krishna Swamy are carried on the day. On the way back, the procession was concluded by lighting a torch.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala is very popular and attractive. It is a famous Hindu temple. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, this temple is one of the oldest temples in India. It is said that Sri Krishna’s grandfather Balarama stayed in this temple. Mention of this temple is found in Skanda Purana and Padma Purana. This temple is believed to have been built around 5 thousand years ago. But there is no exact evidence of the construction of Monger. Incidentally, Padmanabhaswamy is the patron deity of the royal family of Travancore.
