Rajnath Singh prays at Varanasi temples and meets Yogi on eve of IAF show over the Ganga

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spent Saturday in Varanasi, offering prayers at three of the city’s best-known temples and meeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives for the Indian Air Force’s display over the Ganga.

Singh visited the Kashi Vishwanath, Sankat Mochan and Kaal Bhairav temples before his meeting with Adityanath. Neither side said what the two discussed.

Adityanath was in the city too. He inspected Namo Ghat, the venue for Sunday’s show, prayed at Kaal Bhairav and Kashi Vishwanath, and from the Varanasi Commissionerate chaired a video-conference on the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) being held on Sunday.

Sunday over the river

Modi is due at Namo Ghat at about 1 pm as chief guest at the Air Force Day Aerial Display 2026, held to mark the IAF’s 94th anniversary under the theme “Wings over Ganges”. The Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter team are on the programme, with the Tejas, the Prachand attack helicopter, Su-30MKI and Rafale fighters and transport aircraft. Navy and Army aircraft are also due to fly.

Before that, at about 11 am, the Prime Minister opens Arvind Limited’s new garment unit in the city. Local BJP workers have set up eight welcome points along his route from Police Lines to Namo Ghat.

The visit followed Singh’s address to the Army Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi on Friday. He urged commanders to “closely monitor geopolitical as well as regional developments and remain prepared for future challenges” and to plan with a 20 to 30-year horizon.