Ayyappa devotees urge airlines to operate direct flight to Kerala

Update: 2024-11-03 22:41 GMT
Ayyappa devotees have made a call for direct flight services from Vijayawada to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, the two airports nearer to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. (Image: DC)

Vijayawada: Ayyappa devotees have made a call for direct flight services from Vijayawada to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, the two airports nearer to the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.

Thousands of Ayyappa devotees from the region visit the temple during November, December and January to complete their Ayyappa deeksha.

Lakhs of devotees from Andhra Pradesh observe Ayyappa Mala Deeksha, a 41-day annual spiritual ritual in winter, and visit Sabarimala to relinquish their deeksha after this period.

The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) allows Ayyappa pilgrims to carry certain items in their cabin baggage on flights to the Sabarimala temple until January 20, 2025.

The pilgrims have urged airlines to launch a daily flight service from Vijayawada airport to either Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram for the next three months, this being the peak pilgrimage season.

Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation president Potluri Bhaskar Rao said, “There is a need for a direct flight service between AP and Kerala, especially for the next three months.”

Notably, Spicejet used to operate a direct flight service between Vijayawada and Kochi via Tirupati in 2019. This was discontinued due to unknown reasons.

A direct flight service to Kerala would reduce the travel time from 24 hours (by train) to two hours. “We have booked our flight to Kochi on December 6 from Vijayawada via Hyderabad on an Indigo flight. It takes around five hours to reach Kochi. Now, pilgrims from AP are forced to book flights via Hyderabad, Chennai or Bangalore to reach Kerala,” said Nagendra, an Ayyappa devotee from the city.

Another devotee, Mohan, said, “We are a group of five people. Although the railways operate special trains for Ayyappa devotees, a direct flight would greatly benefit the pilgrims.”
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