Twelve flights rescheduled

Thiruvananthapuram: The 10-day-long Alpashi festival is set to conclude with a spectacular Arattu procession on Saturday that winds its way through the airfield along Shankhumugham beach. To ease traffic, a dozen flights will be rescheduled. Ever since the inception of airport near the traditional arattu kadavu, the arattu procession is allowed to cross the high security zone twice every year. “The airport officials support this customary ritual by re-scheduling flights to ease traffic,” said temple executive officer V Ratheesan. Trivandrum airport director George Tharakan said that about 12 flights will be rescheduled on Saturday to make way for the procession of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The three idols of deities Sri Padmanabha, Sri Narasimha and Sri Krishna will be carried to the arattu kadavu during the arattu procession led by the Travancore Royal family members. The idols will be dipped in the Shanghumukham sea water after appropriate rituals. The idols will be carried in a car adorned in the form of a chariot all decked with flowers and decoration resembling Garuda. tnn