(Commonwealth_India) On a warm April afternoon, the skies above Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala in southern India, fell unusually silent. The constant roar of jet engines at the city’s international airport came to a pause—not due to technical difficulties or adverse weather but to honor a centuries-old religious tradition. For a few hours, flight operations were halted as a grand temple procession made its way across the airport’s single runway, offering a rare and remarkable moment where spirituality intersects with modern aviation, blending deep-rooted customs with contemporary infrastructure.
This unique event is part of the Painkuni festival, an annual celebration observed by the revered Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Located in the heart of the city, the temple is not only a spiritual center but also the custodian of one of the greatest treasures ever discovered, with its hidden vaults believed to hold assets worth billions of rupees. The final day of this ten-day festival is marked by an elaborate procession in which the temple deities are ceremoniously paraded through the city. The most iconic part of the journey sees the procession pass directly across the airport runway, a tradition so deeply respected that it temporarily overrides one of Kerala’s busiest travel hubs.
In this grand spectacle, devotees pull ornately carved wooden chariots bearing the temple idols along nearly two kilometers of runway. Elephants, adorned with ceremonial finery, are also a part of the procession, their majestic presence heightening the grandeur and symbolism of the occasion. The image of sacred animals and divine figures gliding past aircraft hangars and control towers paints a surreal yet harmonious picture of tradition thriving in a modern setting.
The journey continues from the temple to the shores of Shanghumugham Beach, about six kilometers away. There, priests conduct a ritual bath for the idols in the Arabian Sea. After the sea cleansing, the return procession retraces the same path—including another crossing of the airport runway—before concluding at the temple where the deities are reinstated in the sanctum.
The roots of this practice stretch back to at least 1932, the year the airport was built by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore. The tradition has been followed since then, regardless of the airport’s evolving management—from the royal family to government control and now to Adani Airport Holdings Ltd., part of the business group led by billionaire Gautam Adani. Despite the handovers, the commitment to the ritual remains unchanged, a testament to the enduring cultural significance of the event.
Airport officials are not only accommodating but also proud to support such a distinctive ritual. Rahul Bhatkoti, the airport’s chief officer, described the event as a rare and meaningful opportunity to protect and celebrate regional heritage. He noted that Thiruvananthapuram might be the only airport in the world that regularly opens a functioning runway to facilitate a religious event.
Meticulous planning handles the event’s logistics. The airport, which usually manages around 90 flights per day, shuts down both its domestic and international terminals during the procession. Given that there’s only one runway, even a few hours of closure require detailed coordination. Airlines are told about the event two months in advance, and only ten flights were rescheduled on the day of the ceremony.
Mahesh Balachandran, executive officer of the temple, explained that the procession begins around 4:45 PM and typically lasts four hours. Participation is limited and highly regulated. Only senior members of the Travancore royal family, select temple priests, authorized officials, and a small number of devotees are allowed to join. Special passes and security clearances from airport authorities are mandatory.
Security is handled with extreme care. The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), responsible for airport safety, barricades the runway and manages the controlled movement of both people and animals. Once the procession is complete, surveillance cameras monitor every step and conduct a thorough inspection of the runway to ensure safety before resuming flights.
This isn’t the only time the airport accommodates such a religious observance. A similar procession occurs during the Alpashi Festival, held in October or November each year, following the same sacred path across the runway. Globally, there are very few precedents for such an occurrence. While airports in places like Bali and Israel shut down during religious observances—such as Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu New Year, and Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism—these closures are part of nationwide public holidays. Thiruvananthapuram stands apart as an example where a runway is transformed into a ceremonial route, not merely closed.
This remarkable blend of devotion and modern infrastructure has earned admiration far beyond the temple grounds. Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor described the scene as a vivid symbol of Kerala’s cultural resilience and ability to integrate ancient traditions into the pulse of contemporary life. He noted that the sight of sacred chariots and elephants crossing an active runway represents how heritage and progress can walk side by side, keeping both grounded in their way.
