Latur District - Culture and Religion

Culture and Religion

Fairs and festivals: Shri Siddeshwar fair at Latur is held every year. Thousands of people attend the Gangaram Maharaj Samadhi every Ekadashi at Hattibet in Udgir tehsil. In January 2011, the first ever 'Latur Festival' was organised on the 10th, 11 and 12 January under the guidance of Shri Amitji Deshmukh. The grand success of this event has now ensured a permanent spot on the cultural calendar. Now this will be an annual fixture. The event is organised by the Latur Club and managed by Indian Magic Eye Pvt. Ltd.

Religious places: Ausa, Hattibet, Nilanga, Renapur, Shirur Anantpal, Tambala, Ujani History: Latur has an ancient history. It was home to the Rashtrakutas and was part of Ashoka's empire. It was, over the centuries, variously ruled by the Satavahanas, the Sakas, the Chalukyas, the Yadavas of Deogiri, the Delhi Sultans, the Bahamani rulers of South India, Adil Shahi, and the Mughals. Later in the 19th century it became part of the independent princely state of Hyderabad. Earlier known as Naldurg tehsil, in 1905 it was merged with surrounding areas and renamed Latur tehsil, and became part of Osmanabad district. After independence and the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, Osmanabad became part of Bombay Province. In 1960, with the creation of Maharashtra, it became one of its districts. On August 15, 1982, Latur was separated from Osmanabad to form a separate Latur district. The district may be divided into two regions—the Balaghat plateau, and the northeastern region consisting of Ahmadpur and Udgir.