Beautification work underway from Babatpur Airport to Namo Ghat; decorative lighting, murals and cultural motifs to highlight Kashi’s heritage
Varanasi, October 2026 : The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is undertaking extensive beautification work across Varanasi ahead of the proposed air show to give the city an attractive appearance and showcase its rich cultural heritage.
Work is progressing rapidly to decorate and enhance major roads, buildings, flyovers, underpasses and walls along the route from Babatpur Airport to Namo Ghat. While some walls are being adorned with paintings depicting the Ganga’s waves and the city’s iconic ghats, buildings will showcase scenes reflecting Subah-e-Banaras, the celebrated experience of dawn in Varanasi.
Decorative lighting is also being installed on streetlights, trees and bridges to offer visitors a glimpse of Kashi’s cultural traditions during the air show.
Walls to depict the Ganga, ghats and Subah-e-Banaras
Purna Bora, Vice-Chairman of the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA), said the city’s identity is rooted in its rich heritage, traditions and cultural diversity. The beautification initiative is designed to highlight these distinctive features.
Paintings, mural art and decorative lighting are being used along the route from the airport to Namo Ghat to showcase Varanasi’s cultural identity.
The walls will feature images of the Ganga, its waves and the city’s riverfront ghats. Buildings will display scenes associated with the ghats and Subah-e-Banaras. Paintings depicting the Ganga Aarti and other aspects of Kashi’s art and culture will also be incorporated into the decorations.
Namo Ghat route to feature damru, trident and Om symbols
Flags reflecting Kashi’s religious and cultural identity are proposed to be installed along the divider on the Namo Ghat route. The flags will feature symbols associated with Lord Shiva, including the damru (traditional drum), trident and the sacred Om symbol.
The decorations aim to give the route an appealing appearance in keeping with the city’s spiritual traditions.
Shops and buildings to receive a uniform colour scheme
Bora said shops and buildings between Chowkaghat and Namo Ghat are being painted in a uniform colour to create a coordinated and visually appealing streetscape.
Facade lighting is being installed on trees, while spiral streetlights are being fitted to electricity poles. The beautification initiative will also highlight Varanasi’s religious, cultural and artistic heritage.
Depictions of events associated with Lord Buddha, along with glimpses of the city’s music and dance traditions, will form part of the decorative themes.
Beautification work underway from Namo Ghat to Chowkaghat
Facade painting is being carried out on buildings along the road between Namo Ghat and Chowkaghat. Motif lights are being installed along the Namo Ghat route, while decorative motif pillars are being placed on the Chowkaghat bridge.
Beautification work is also underway in the Chowkaghat area. Painting activities are continuing at Namo Ghat and Gaya Ghat.
Route from Babatpur Airport to Namo Ghat to be illuminated
Motif lighting is being installed along the stretch from Babatpur Airport to Atulanand, while strip lights are being fitted to electricity poles. The road divider between Babatpur and the Babatpur Flyover is also being painted.
Facade lighting is being installed on trees and the bridge along the route from Babatpur to the Namo Ghat Bridge.
Once completed, the route from the airport to Namo Ghat is expected to be illuminated with decorative lights and enhanced with colourful artwork. The initiative aims to improve the city’s visual appeal and introduce visitors arriving for the proposed air show to Varanasi’s distinctive cultural heritage and traditions.
