PM Modi watches IAF 'Wings Over Ganges' air show at Varanasi's Namo Ghat
Synopsis
The skies above Varanasi's Namo Ghat turned into a theatre of air power on Sunday as PM Modi watched the IAF's 'Wings Over Ganges' — Tejas, Rafale, Surya Kiran and a historic tri-services Tridev formation over the Ganga, all to mark 94 years of the Indian Air Force.
Key Takeaways
PM Narendra Modi witnessed the IAF's 'Wings Over Ganges' air show at Namo Ghat, Varanasi on 25 October 2026 .
The event marked the Indian Air Force's 94th anniversary , featuring aircraft including Tejas , Rafale , Su-30MKI , LCH Prachand and the Mirage-2000 .
The Tridev formation brought together platforms from the Indian Air Force , Indian Navy and Indian Army , highlighting tri-services coordination.
The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team performed with nine Hawk Mk 132 aircraft in iconic red-and-white livery over the River Ganga .
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , UP Governor Anandiben Patel and CM Yogi Adityanath were present at the event.
Formation names — Nataraj , Mahadev and Vishwanath — reflected the cultural identity of Varanasi .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, 25 October 2026, witnessed the Indian Air Force's (IAF) spectacular 'Wings Over Ganges' aerial display at Namo Ghat, Varanasi, staged over the sacred River Ganga to mark the force's 94th anniversary. The event brought together a formidable array of frontline aircraft in a coordinated showcase of operational capability, precision flying and inter-service coordination.
Aircraft and Formations on Display
The air show featured some of the IAF's most capable platforms, including the indigenously built Tejas light combat aircraft, the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, the Su-30MKI and the Rafale, alongside several transport and military aircraft. The second phase of proceedings opened with three Mi-17 V-5 helicopters carrying the national flag and the Indian Air Force flag in an 'Omkar' formation, led by Group Captain Anuj Gupta.
The display also featured the 'Bhagirathi' diamond formation, comprising LCH and Apache helicopters, followed by the Tridev formation — a tri-services ensemble that brought together the Indian Navy's Kamov 31 helicopter alongside Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark 3 platforms from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army, underscoring the joint operational synergy among India's three armed services.
Highlights of the Aerial Spectacle
Flowers were showered from the sky in a ceremonial display, followed by a flare performance by Rudra aircraft led by Wing Commander S. Bhargava. The crowd-favourite Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) — operating nine distinctive red-and-white Hawk Mk 132 aircraft — painted the skies above the Ganga with signature formations and precision aerobatic routines, drawing widespread applause from spectators gathered on the riverbanks.
The programme further highlighted the IAF's airlift and formation-flying depth, with the Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) system, MiG-29, P-8I, IL-78, Mirage-2000 and Su-30MKI all participating in named formations — Freelocean, Nataraj, Mahadev and Vishwanath — each evocative of Varanasi's spiritual heritage.
Dignitaries Present
The event drew a high-profile gathering of officials. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath were among those present at Namo Ghat alongside Prime Minister Modi. A large number of citizens lined the banks of the holy river to witness the display, reflecting the deep public interest in both the IAF's capabilities and the symbolic choice of Varanasi as the venue.
Significance of the Varanasi Venue
Staging the 94th IAF anniversary air show at Varanasi — Prime Minister Modi's own parliamentary constituency — carried additional symbolic weight. The choice of the ghats of the Ganga as a backdrop for military aerobatics is a deliberate fusion of national pride with cultural identity, a framing the government has deployed at other high-visibility defence events. Notably, the formation names — Mahadev and Vishwanath — are direct references to the city's presiding deity, Lord Shiva, deepening the cultural resonance of the event.
The Indian Air Force marked its 94th Raising Day on 8 October; the Varanasi air show on 25 October extended the commemorative calendar with a public-facing spectacle at one of the country's most iconic riverfront locations. How the IAF deploys future anniversary events — and whether the tri-services Tridev formation signals a broader push toward joint-theatre operations — will be worth watching.
Point of View
The formation names evoking Shiva, the PM front-and-centre. The choice of venue is a reminder that defence optics in India are rarely separable from electoral geography. More substantively, the Tridev formation — tying together naval, army and IAF rotary assets in a public display — signals an intent to project joint-services integration to a domestic audience, even as theatre commands reform remains a slow-moving file in New Delhi. The real test of 94 years of air power is not aerobatics over a ghat, but how quickly the IAF absorbs its new platforms and fills critical capability gaps in its fighter squadrons.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Wings Over Ganges' air show in Varanasi?
'Wings Over Ganges' is an aerial display organised by the Indian Air Force at Namo Ghat, Varanasi on 25 October 2026 to commemorate the IAF's 94th anniversary . The event featured frontline aircraft including the Tejas, Rafale, Su-30MKI and LCH Prachand in a series of formation flying and aerobatic routines over the River Ganga.
Which aircraft performed at the Varanasi IAF air show?
The air show featured the Tejas , LCH Prachand , Su-30MKI , Rafale , Mirage-2000 , MiG-29 , P-8I , IL-78 , Mi-17 V-5 , Apache , Kamov 31 and ALH Mark 3 helicopters, along with the AEW&C system. The Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team performed with nine Hawk Mk 132 aircraft.
Who were the dignitaries present at the 'Wings Over Ganges' event?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Defence Minister Rajnath Singh , Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended the event at Namo Ghat, Varanasi .
What is the Tridev formation displayed at the Varanasi air show?
The Tridev formation brought together the Indian Navy's Kamov 31 helicopter and Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Mark 3 platforms from the Indian Air Force and the Indian Army in a single coordinated display. It was designed to showcase inter-service operational coordination among India's three armed forces.
Why was Varanasi chosen for the IAF 94th anniversary air show?
The IAF organised the 'Wings Over Ganges' display in Varanasi — Prime Minister Modi's parliamentary constituency — as part of the broader commemorations for its 94th Raising Day . The choice of the Ganga ghats as a backdrop, along with formation names such as Mahadev and Vishwanath , reflected the city's cultural and spiritual identity.
