The “Wings over Ganges” event was a historic, first-of-its-kind mega air show over the sacred Ganga River in Varanasi, held on 25 October to celebrate the 94th anniversary of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Around 100 aircraft participated, drawn from 12 airbases, including around 52 fighters (Rafale, Su-30MKI, HAL Tejas), 32 helicopters (Sarang Helicopter Display Team, LCH Prachand, Chinook), transport planes, and aerobatic teams.
The display took place with the iconic backdrop of the ancient ghats of Kashi (from Namo Ghat to Assi Ghat), blending modern military combat might with a deeply spiritual, heritage-rich backdrop. The high-profile attendance during the finale on October 25, 2026, was witnessed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The IAF’s aerial might and premier display teams, including the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team and the Sarang Helicopter Display Team, enthralled the audiences from the air. While annual Air Force Day parades and larger integrated exercises happen elsewhere (such as in Delhi-NCR or coastal/desert ranges), “Wings Over Ganges” stands out as a unique and unprecedented riverfront demonstration of India‘s air power. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the IAF’s aerial display as “SPECTACULAR”.
Formation Names
The air show in Varanasi featured multiple aerial formations and call signs named after cultural and spiritual themes of Kashi and avatars of Lord Shiva. The “Prachand Formation” (meaning intense, fierce, violent, powerful, or extremely severe) included six frontline fighter aircraft (Sukhoi-30MKI, Rafale, Jaguar, Mirage-2000, LCA Tejas, and MiG-29) flying in an arrowhead shape to show combat capabilities. The Kashi Formation had three Surya Kiran aircraft flying in a V formation trailing the colours of the Indian Tricolour. Assi Call Sign (after the ghat, meaning 80) was used by the indigenous LCA Tejas fighter aircraft (piloted by Group Captain Roop, Call Sign 80) during low-altitude aerobatics.
Dashashwa / Dashashwamedh (Dashashwamedh Ghat) formation was led by a C-17 Globemaster with nine Surya Kiran Hawk aircraft during flypasts. Neelkanth Formation (The name comes from the ancient Hindu legend of the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan) by the gods (Devas) and demons (Asuras) to retrieve the nectar of immortality (Amrita)) featured Rafale fighter jets executing a Trishul breakout.
Hanuman Formation was flown by Sukhoi Su-30MKI aircraft. Tridev and Nataraj Formations were multi-service joint tactical formations integrating Indian Navy and Indian Air Force assets. Other Shiva-Inspired formation names were Kedaar, Sarnath, Omkar, Rudra, Shankar, Bhairav, Kailash, Trilochan, Mahadev, Vishwanath, and Pashupati.
Ganga Formation was the opening signature routine flown by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team.
Blending Operational Prowess, Spirituality and Ancient History
The event represented a masterful confluence where cutting-edge military operations processes, ancient Hindu spirituality, and India‘s civilizational history seamlessly blended into a singular spectacle. The event harmonized these three distinct pillars into a cohesive narrative.
The operations process and tactical precision demonstrated through a large-scale public outreach air show over an open, flowing riverfront required complex logistical coordination and pinpoint operational execution. The operations process involved orchestrating 100 aircraft sourced from 12 different air bases across the country, managing precise windows for arrival and airspace entry. Air traffic controllers and mission commanders managed an incredibly diverse fleet flying in close parameters, including 52 fighter jets (Rafale, Sukhoi-30MKI, Tejas), 32 helicopters (Chinook, Apache, LCH Prachand), 15 transport aircraft (C-295), and a heritage aircraft. A critical operational milestone was the seamless inclusion of assets from the Indian Army and Indian Navy (such as the Navy’s P-8I patrol aircraft and Ka-31 helicopter), transforming a celebratory display into a live exercise of joint operational strength. A P-8I maritime patrol aircraft was launched from INS Rajali at Arakkonam, near Chennai, and joined up with Mirage 2000s over Gwalior on the way north. Unlike traditional displays over static runways or flat military bases, the operations process adapted to the unique thermal and wind-draft dynamics rising from the flowing Ganga River, directly testing the adaptability and precision flying skills of the pilots.
Spiritual confluence and “Sky Art” were on display. The IAF intentionally wove deep spiritual symbolism into its tactical manoeuvres, turning the sky over Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, into a canvas of devotion. The aerial formations were named after and modelled around sacred icons. Frontline fighter jets formed a massive three-pronged trident (Trishul) in the sky, paying homage to Lord Shiva, the patron deity of Kashi (Varanasi). The Omkar formation of Mi-17 V5 helicopters carried the Tricolour and the Air Force flag while locking into a configuration signifying the sacred syllable “Om”. A fleet of Chetak helicopters flew in a synchronized “Ganga” formation to shower flower petals over the holy waters, while Sukhoi-30MKIs engaged in high-speed manoeuvres under the “Rudra” formation, embodying Shiva’s fierce energy. And all this with a sacred backdrop. The aerobatic teams, including the world-famous Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) and the Sarang Helicopter Display Team, performed loops and rolls directly in the airspace framing the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple. SKAT was formed in 1996; the team has flown more than 850 displays. Five of the Surya Kiran officers are from Uttar Pradesh, which made Varanasi a home crowd for part of the formation.
Historical resonance was all over. Varanasi is widely considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Staging “Wings Over Ganges” here binds India‘s millennia-old civilizational history with the modern journey of the state. The ancient heritage met the modern might. The redeveloped Namo Ghat served as the primary theatre, juxtaposing thousands of years of riverfront rituals with the thunder of supersonic technology, demonstrating how an ancient civilization securely transitions into a contemporary aerospace power. The display mapped the historical evolution of the IAF from its humble beginnings in 1932 to its status as a technological powerhouse. The inclusion of a vintage heritage aircraft alongside 4.5-generation fighter jets visually communicated this historical trajectory. Formations like the “Bhagirathi” (named after the mythological source stream of the Ganga brought down by King Bhagiratha) connected the nation’s defence forces to the deep-rooted historical narratives that have defined Indian identity for generations.
Three HJT-16 Kiran trainers drew the tricolour across the sky in the “Kashi” formation. The choreography leaned on the city’s sacred geography. Beyond Kashi, the “Varun” formation brought three ALH Mk-III helicopters. By embedding deep cultural and spiritual motifs into complex, multi-service military manoeuvres, the IAF used “Wings over Ganges” to project not just raw geopolitical power, but a nation intimately in touch with its history, faith, and forward-looking strategic goals.
The event was coordinated by the Central Air Command, whose headquarters sit just upriver at Prayagraj. One witnessed the power, agility, and precision of the finest machines of the IAF as they streaked across the Varanasi skyline. Flying fast jets low over a river lined with temples and a dense old city is not a casual undertaking. To reduce the bird-strike risk, Varanasi banned the sale of meat, fish and poultry within 30 km (19 miles) of the venue from 19 October, to keep scavenging birds away from the display line. Police built a security plan modelled on the Maha Kumbh framework, with temporary police posts, restricted heavy-vehicle traffic and green corridors to hospitals.
Air power was seen as a public festival, and the IAF had framed the Wings Over Ganges show around two goals – showing the public how the IAF works, and persuading young Indians to join the armed forces. Few air forces could stage a hundred aircraft over a holy river and make it feel like a festival rather than a parade.
The Show Video
Author: Air Marshal Anil Chopra X: @Chopsyturvey
Header Picture Credit: Representative Image Generated using AI
Twitter: @AirPowerAsia
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