Varanasi air show: Rafale, Tejas fly over Ganga as crowds pack ghats
By Siddharth VermaBusiness Correspondent, Peepals Bharat
Representative image: balouriarajesh / Pixabay
The IAF's Wings Over Ganges show filled Varanasi's ghats on 25 October 2026, with PM Modi watching Rafale and Tejas jets from Namo Ghat.
What Happened
Varanasi drew large crowds to its ghats on Sunday, 25 October 2026, as the Indian Air Force staged its "Wings Over Ganges" air show over the river to mark its 94th anniversary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched the display from Namo Ghat, joined by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, according to reports of the event. Rafale, Tejas and Su-30MKI fighters flew over the Ganga, and spectators also packed Bhosale Ghat and the opposite bank towards Ramnagar.
Key Facts
- The Indian Air Force held "Wings Over Ganges" over the Ganga in Varanasi on Sunday, 25 October 2026, the main day of the show.
- The display marked the Air Force's 94th anniversary.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi watched from Namo Ghat with Rajnath Singh, Anandiben Patel and Yogi Adityanath.
- Reports before the show listed about 100 aircraft, including Rafale, Sukhoi and Tejas fighters and Chinook helicopters.
- Earlier display days were held in the same week, and officials had expected 20 to 30 lakh visitors over the show days.
- Police deployed about 11,900 personnel and used drones and CCTV to manage crowds and VIP routes.
Why It Matters
Air shows are usually held over airbases, far from where most people live. Holding one over a river, with the ghats acting as a natural gallery, turned the display into a public event that anyone in the city could watch without a ticket. For Varanasi, which already draws pilgrims and tourists through the year, it added a new kind of crowd: families and young people who came for the aircraft rather than the temples.
The choice of the riverfront as the venue also matters for the city's tourism planning. Instead of one enclosed ground, the crowd was spread along Namo Ghat, Bhosale Ghat and the far bank towards Ramnagar. Sunday's show was a test of how well the ghats, which already handle festival crowds, can absorb a gathering of this size for an event of a very different kind.
The scale of the security plan shows how seriously the city took that test. With roughly 11,900 police personnel on duty and drones watching crowd movement, the administration treated the show like a major festival day. People also lined the road from the police lines to Namo Ghat to see the Prime Minister's convoy pass.
For the Air Force, the show is part of its anniversary outreach. Taking fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters to a civilian setting lets far more people see the force's equipment than would ever visit an airbase.
| Day | What reports say |
|---|---|
| 22 October | Display held over the Ganga, according to reports |
| 24 October | Further display day listed by most reports |
| 25 October (Sunday) | Main show, watched by the Prime Minister from Namo Ghat |
Impact
Short-term: Visitors to Varanasi during the show days faced crowded ghats and tight police arrangements around Namo Ghat, as officers managed spectators and the Prime Minister's movement through the city. Anyone visiting the riverfront this week should expect heavier footfall than usual as crowds disperse.
Long-term: If the city and the Air Force judge the event a success, Varanasi may be considered again for large public displays over the river. The experience also gives the district a working plan for handling very large riverfront crowds, which will be useful for future festivals on the ghats.
Who is affected: Residents and visitors in Varanasi, people who live and work along the ghats, and travellers planning trips to the city during the festival season.
Key Takeaway
The Air Force's "Wings Over Ganges" show turned the Varanasi ghats into an open-air gallery on 25 October 2026, with the Prime Minister watching from Namo Ghat and crowds lining both banks.
Questions and Answers
What was the Varanasi air show on 25 October 2026?
It was "Wings Over Ganges", an Indian Air Force display over the Ganga held to mark the force's 94th anniversary. Fighter jets, transport aircraft and helicopters flew over the river while crowds watched from the ghats.
Where did people watch the Varanasi air show from?
The main viewing point was Namo Ghat, where the Prime Minister and other leaders sat. Spectators also gathered at Bhosale Ghat and on the opposite bank towards Ramnagar.
Which aircraft took part?
Reports named Rafale, Tejas and Su-30MKI fighters, along with Chinook helicopters. Reports before the show said about 100 aircraft were in the line-up.
How were the crowds managed?
The show was watched from public ghats and riverbanks. Police deployed about 11,900 personnel and used drones and CCTV cameras to manage crowds and the routes used by the visiting leaders.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Siddharth Verma, Business CorrespondentCovers Business and more for Peepals Bharat. All stories by Siddharth Verma
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Siddharth Verma is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
