The fish ‘prasadam' to asthma patients will be administered for 24 hours at a stretch from 5 p.m. onwards on June 8 at Exhibition Grounds in Nampally.
Over six lakh patients from all over the country and the globe are expected to take ‘prasadam' this year as against five-and-a-half lakh patients last year, Bathini Harinath Goud, a fourth-generation member of the Bathini family, told reporters here on Monday. He said the elaborate process of preparing fish ‘prasadam' was on in full swing at their ancestral home in Doodhbowli. “Twenty-three members, particularly women in our family were putting in lot of effort in preparing the medicine,” Mr. Goud explained, adding that it would be administered by 300 members of the family on Mrigasira Karthi day. Patients should not consume food for two hours before and after taking ‘prasadam'. The Fisheries Department has proposed to fix the price of murrel fish at Rs.10 each. The district administration in association with several social organisations decided to extend support for the smooth conduct of the annual event. Plans have also been chalked out to ensure foolproof security measures at Exhibition Grounds. Referring to allegations made by some organisations on the genuineness of the ‘prasadam', he said the family was offering service to asthma patients free of cost since 1845. He reminded the pending cases against the family have been dismissed by the court on considering the reports from leading labs across the country.
The labs certified that ‘Bathini fish' was safe and there were no steroids or heavy metals in it, he claimed.
