Namo Ghat likely to host IAF air show in Oct

Varanasi: With grand stand at Namo Ghat, the almost eight-kilometre stretch of mythological ghats and sand bed on the opposite bank will likely become the pavilion for the proposed air show of Indian Air Force in Oct.Increased activity by IAF officials at Namo Ghat has sparked curiosity about the event, with choppers spotted landing there recently. IAF officials were also seen exploring Namo Ghat phase-II’s vast platform for additional arrangements, leveraging its capacity to handle multiple choppers and accommodate a large number of vehicles. This suggests preparations are underway for a significant event, possibly an air show, given the ghat’s facilities managed by Varanasi Smart City Limited.The VSCL said the IAF has planned an event after the IAF Day on Oct 8, and the landing of choppers and venue visits by the central air command was aimed at checking the feasibility for the same.The district administration was considering rescheduling the air show at Namo Ghat in Varanasi due to the Ganga river’s water levels. Initially, they proposed a date after Dev Deepawali (Nov 24), but the IAF prefers holding it between Dussehra (Oct 20) and Dev Deepawali. As a result, the tentative dates are now between Oct 23 and 28After Feb 26, 2025, Prayagraj IAF’s air show that showcases technological prowess, precision flying and operational capabilities, will be evident through flypasts and formations in the sky above the river Ganga in Kashi, which has a riverfront stretched over seven kilometres. The ghats offer ample space with steps that can serve as galleries for events, while the sand bed on the opposite bank can accommodate hundreds of thousands of people. Once the Indian Air Force finalizes its plan, crowd management exercises will begin for the air show.The thrilling flypasts with frontline fighters, transport aircraft, helicopters and aerobatic performances pulls huge crowd. People haven’t forgotten the mammoth crowd turn up Marina beach in Chennai on Oct 6, 2024. A grand flying display on Nov 9 over the Brahmaputra River at Lachit Ghat, Guwahati, Assam, has enabled commoners watching over 75 aircraft in more than 25 formations, including Rafale, Su-30MKI, Tejas, Apache and others.