Grand welcome for Mahajan brothers after RAAM success

Nashik: The Mahajan brothers, who became the first Indian team to complete the world's toughest cycle race RAAM earlier this week, were accorded a grand welcome in their home town today.

After landing at the Mumbai airport in the wee hours, Hitendra Mahajan and his younger brother Mahendra travelled home to Nashik, where they were welcomed by friends and cycling enthusiasts.

A procession with the doctor brothers -- Hitendra is an anaesthetist, while Mahendra is a dentist -- seated atop an elephant was taken out in the city early this morning and ended at the Raosaheb Thorat Auditorium with a formal felicitation.

Crew members, who helped the duo complete the gruelling 4,800-km race in eight days and 11 hours, were also present in the procession. The Mahajan brothers, who also won in the two-men under-50 category, were seen displaying their trophies in the procession, which was led by a music troupe playing local percussion instruments.

Members from Kalpataru Foundation for which the Mahajans helped raise money by racing at RAAM, Nashik Cyclists Association and Nashikites were present at the procession.

The Mahajan brothers braved high temperature, hilly areas, low temperatures and storms during the race which starts from California on USA's western coast and ends in the Maryland state on the eastern coast.

An elaborate event, which will see many cyclists joining in, has been planned for later this evening.