Over 50,000 attend Deshmukh''s ''Latur Festival''

Latur, Jan 14 (PTI) Over 50,000 people attended the LaturFestival, a three-day cultural extravaganza, initiated byUnion Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in his home town inMarathwada region.

"Let us give a new Latur pattern to Maharashtra throughLatur Festival," Deshmukh said, during the inauguaral functionof the festival, which concluded here on January 12.

Deshmukh said he was very happy'' that his son, CongressMLA Amit Deshmukh, organised the Festival. "I am very proudand happy about his work," he added.

Deshmukh said he was pleasantly surprised to noteduring the Latur Festival, that artiste Govind Shirsat, whohails from Latur, regularly arranges an art exhibition abroad.

Amit Deshmukh said people of Latur have given atremendous response to this festival and it would be held inJanuary every year. Over 13,000 students participated in adrawing competition held as part of the Festival, he said.

Actor Riteish Deshmukh, son of Vilasrao Deshmukh, wasgiven the ''Yuva Gaurav'' Award during the Festival.

Lok Sabha member Jaywantrao Awale, ministers BalasahebThorat, Madhukar Chavan, former minister Dilip Deshmukh andformer CM Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar, were present during theevent.