Nobody was looking at the water this weekend. Every single pair of eyes at Sukhna Lake was pointed straight up — and for good reason. On March 27 and 28, 2026, the Indian Air Force’s elite Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT) put on a breathtaking aerial display over Sukhna Lake that left thousands of Chandigarh residents completely speechless.
What Happened at the Chandigarh Air Show 2026
The display ran from 10 AM to 11:30 AM on both days, with Hawk Mk-132 jets roaring off from the Air Force Station and flying directly over the lake. What followed was nothing short of magic.
The team performed loops, barrel rolls, inverted flying, and steep dives. Using coloured smoke trails, the pilots sketched stunning formations in the sky — including the DNA formation, the Yuva (Y) formation, and a sharp 90-degree clover shape symbolising hope, faith, and good luck. The show concluded with all nine aircraft coming together in a special aerial salute formation — sending the crowd into a roar. An elderly spectator summed it up perfectly, pointing to the sky and saying the team’s motto — “Sadaiva Sarvottam” — always the best.
A City That Showed Up
Entry was allowed only through passes purchased via the Chandigarh Tourism app at ₹100 each, with the venue capacity capped at 10,000 people per day. Yet the crowd that showed up was electric — students, families, senior citizens, aviation lovers — all gathered at the lakefront, necks craned skyward.
Over 1,300 police personnel were deployed for traffic regulation, security, and crowd management. Buses ran from seven designated points across the city. The administration nailed the logistics — and Chandigarh showed up in full force. Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria graced Day 2 as the Chief Guest, with senior officials including Chief Secretary H. Rajesh Prasad attending the event.
Why This Was Special
With this show, Chandigarh joined a select list of Indian cities to host the Surya Kiran team in a dedicated civilian aerobatic display. This wasn’t a defence event — it was for us, the people of this city. And this was actually the team’s second visit in just six months. They had previously performed here in September 2025 during the retirement ceremony of the iconic MiG-21.
Sukhna Lake has seen sunsets, marathons, and a thousand quiet mornings. But this weekend, it became the stage for something that made an entire city proud.
Chandigarh, you showed up. And the sky delivered.
