PM Modi visits Varanasi, Kedarnath on Oct 24-25: Air show, factory inauguration, corridor review
Synopsis
Prime Minister Modi heads to Varanasi on 24-25 October for 'Wings Over Ganges' — an IAF aerial showcase featuring Rafale, Tejas and Sukhoi jets over the Ganga at Namo Ghat — before flying to Kedarnath to review corridor development. It is a rare itinerary that pairs a defence spectacle with pilgrimage infrastructure, all anchored in Modi's own Lok Sabha seat.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi will visit Varanasi and Kedarnath on 24-25 October .
The 'Wings Over Ganges' IAF aerial display at Namo Ghat runs on 22, 24, and 25 October ; Modi is expected to attend on 25 October .
Aircraft including Rafale , Sukhoi , and Tejas jets, plus the Surya Kiran and Sarang display teams, will feature in the show.
CM Yogi Adityanath is also expected to attend; Varanasi Police are on full alert for lakhs of expected visitors.
Modi is likely to inaugurate a factory in the Sevapuri area of Varanasi.
The Kedarnath leg will focus on reviewing progress of the Kedarnath Corridor infrastructure project.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to undertake a packed two-day visit to Varanasi and Kedarnath on 24-25 October, combining industrial inaugurations, a landmark Indian Air Force aerial display, and a progress review of the Kedarnath Corridor development project. The programme spans two states — Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand — and is expected to draw lakhs of visitors, particularly for the air show over the Ganga.
Varanasi Programme: Factory, Development Events
In Varanasi — Modi's Lok Sabha constituency — the Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate a factory in the Sevapuri area, according to the proposed itinerary. He is also expected to attend programmes tied to the city's ongoing development agenda. The visit reinforces Modi's pattern of periodic constituency engagements that blend industrial outreach with public events.
Wings Over Ganges: IAF Aerial Display at Namo Ghat
A major highlight of the visit will be the Indian Air Force aerial display titled 'Wings Over Ganges', scheduled over the Ganga at Namo Ghat on 22, 24, and 25 October. Prime Minister Modi is expected to attend the air show on 25 October, with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also anticipated to be present.
The display is reportedly set to feature frontline aircraft including Rafale, Sukhoi, and Tejas fighter jets, alongside the Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter display team. Chief Minister Adityanath had recently inspected the arrangements and directed officials to ensure tight security during his visit to the city. The Varanasi Police are on full alert to manage VIP movement and the anticipated crowd of lakhs.
Kedarnath Visit: Corridor Progress Review
On 25 October, Modi is also expected to travel to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand to review the progress of the Kedarnath Corridor development project. The visit will focus on taking stock of ongoing infrastructure and facility-improvement works at the Himalayan pilgrimage centre, one of the most significant religious sites in northern India.
The corridor project has been a priority infrastructure undertaking for the Uttarakhand government, aimed at enhancing accessibility and amenities for pilgrims visiting the shrine. This is among Modi's periodic reviews of progress at the site.
Security and Logistics
Given the dual-state itinerary and the scale of the public air show event, security arrangements are being handled at multiple levels. Varanasi Police have been placed on heightened alert, with protocols in place to manage both VIP security and crowd control during the aerial display. The combination of a sitting Prime Minister's visit with a large public spectacle over the Ganga is expected to draw significant footfall to Namo Ghat across the three display dates.
The two-day programme underscores the Centre's focus on both urban development in a key constituency and pilgrimage infrastructure in the Himalayas, with a high-visibility defence showcase serving as the centrepiece of the Varanasi leg.
Point of View
Followed immediately by a pilgrimage infrastructure review in Uttarakhand. Both are high-visibility, low-controversy formats that reinforce the 'development + cultural pride' messaging that has defined Modi's constituency politics since 2014. What the schedule does not detail — timelines or completion targets for the Kedarnath Corridor, or the scale of the Sevapuri factory — matters as much as the visits themselves. Reviews without public benchmarks can become ritual rather than accountability. The 'Wings Over Ganges' event is genuinely newsworthy on its own terms, but its proximity to development engagements suggests the political framing is as deliberate as the flight path.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When is PM Modi visiting Varanasi and Kedarnath?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Varanasi on 24 October and Kedarnath on 25 October 2026, as part of a two-day programme spanning Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
What is the 'Wings Over Ganges' air show in Varanasi?
'Wings Over Ganges' is an Indian Air Force aerial display being held over the Ganga at Namo Ghat in Varanasi on 22, 24, and 25 October. It is set to feature Rafale, Sukhoi, and Tejas fighter jets, along with the Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter display team.
What will PM Modi do in Varanasi during the visit?
In Varanasi, Modi is expected to inaugurate a factory in the Sevapuri area, attend development-related programmes, and watch the 'Wings Over Ganges' IAF air show at Namo Ghat on 25 October. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also expected to attend the air show.
What is the Kedarnath Corridor project?
The Kedarnath Corridor is an ongoing infrastructure development project aimed at improving accessibility, amenities, and facilities at the Kedarnath shrine — one of Uttarakhand's most prominent Himalayan pilgrimage centres. Modi's 25 October visit will involve reviewing progress on works at the site.
What security arrangements are in place for the Varanasi events?
Varanasi Police have been placed on full alert to manage both VIP movement and the large public crowd expected for the air show, which is anticipated to draw lakhs of visitors over its three-day run.
