Ghats of Varanasi prepare for IAF display on 25 October
Published on 09/27/2026 at 10:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
The Ghats of Varanasi will form the riverfront setting for the IAF Aerial Display 2026 at Namo Ghat on 22, 23 and 25 October 2026. The place, also called Varanasi ke Ghats, extends along the Ganga in Varanasi and is now the focus of civic and police preparations for the event.
The October programme gives travellers a specific reason to follow access arrangements at the riverfront. It also places a military aviation display against a landscape of stone steps, temples, bathing areas and ceremonial spaces.
IAF Aerial Display 2026 reaches Namo Ghat on 25 October
The Indian Air Force Central Air Command announced the aerial display at Namo Ghat, with the wider schedule set for 22, 23 and 25 October. The programme is intended to present the command’s six-decade history through an aerial event over the Ganga, as reported by the IAF display announcement.
Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal inspected Namo Ghat, Raj Ghat and Bhaisasur Ghat while officials reviewed pedestrian routes, entry and exit points, parking and traffic plans. Additional surveillance, emergency routes, queue management and evacuation arrangements are also being prepared for the expected pressure on the riverfront.
Namo Ghat is due to be handed to Air Force control from 16 October, with public access restricted during the setup period, according to reporting on the event preparations. The practical effect is that a visit planned for late October may not offer the same access at every ghat as a normal sightseeing day.
The riverfront landscape behind the October air show
The Ghats of Varanasi are a sequence of steps descending to the Ganga. The official city list records 88 named ghats, including Assi Ghat, Tulsi Ghat, Dashashwamedh Ghat, Manikarnika Ghat, Raj Ghat and Adi Keshava Ghat.
The riverfront has developed over several centuries. A UNESCO tentative-list description places the history of sacred waterside locations as far back as the eighth and ninth centuries, while construction of stone stepped ghats began from the fourteenth century. Much of the visible architecture was rebuilt or patronised after 1700, and the ghats remain active places for ritual, public gatherings and everyday river access.
This history explains why the air show is more than an event at an isolated venue. Namo Ghat sits within a continuous cultural landscape, while the adjoining steps and approaches are being prepared for a large public gathering. The city’s current list of ghats is available through the official ghat register.
Visiting Ghats of Varanasi: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The IAF Aerial Display 2026 is scheduled for 22, 23 and 25 October 2026, with Namo Ghat as the named riverfront venue.
- Namo Ghat is due to enter Air Force control from 16 October 2026, so public access may be restricted there during preparations.
- The ghats are in Varanasi on the western bank of the Ganga. Named riverfront points include Namo Ghat, Raj Ghat and Assi Ghat.
- The terrain consists of stone steps descending towards the river, with changing levels between upper platforms and lower waterside areas.
- Hindi is the main official language used in local administration, and the national currency is the Indian rupee.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Ghats of Varanasi
When does the IAF Aerial Display 2026 take place at the Ghats of Varanasi?
The display is scheduled for 22, 23 and 25 October 2026, with Namo Ghat named as the principal riverfront venue.
What has changed at the Ghats of Varanasi?
Civic and police teams are preparing the riverfront for the October 2026 air show, including silt clearance, crowd planning and traffic management.
Where are the Ghats of Varanasi and how do you get there?
They line the Ganga in Varanasi, with Namo Ghat, Raj Ghat and Assi Ghat among the named riverfront locations. Access arrangements may vary during the October 2026 preparations.
