Shital Rane Mahajan, an Indian skydiver has another feather in her cap. She has become the first Indian to perform skydiving in a traditional Maharashtrian Nauvari saree. She achieved this feat in Pataya at Thailand’s Thai Skydiving Centre. She wore a 9 yard pink and purple coloured saree.  

Shital, 35-year-old, is a Pune based adventurist, who first performed a parachute sky jump in 2004, without any prior training, at a critical temperature of minus 37 degree Celsius at the Geographical North pole from a height of 2400 feets.

Recipient of the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, she received it from the then president Pratibha Patil for her contributions and achievements in the skydiving sports.  She has also been felicitated by several other honours and participated in various national and international skydiving championships. She aims at creating more and more Shital Mahajan from the country to increase Indian participation in the sport.

When asked about his unconventional career choice once, she told, “I wanted to do something different. Many women players have performed well in other sports, but none in para jumping. The way I was inspired by Rachal Thomas India’s first woman skydiver (Retired) achievements. I hope so My achievement will inspire other girls to take up the sport.”