The stage is set for the annual fish prasadam distribution scheduled to commence on Monday. The exhibition society expects around 60,000 people to attend.
By Sunday evening, thousands of people had arrived from across the country to take the prasadam that will be distributed by the Bathini Goud family. They were being accommodated in makeshift tents on Exhibition Grounds.
“This is our second year here. After coming to know about fish medicine through television, we decided to try. My asthma attacks are now under control and I don’t need other medications,” said 53-year-old Vishnu Shailesh Ram Jhadav of Aurangabad, who came along with two other family members to receive the medicine.
“Though we are vegetarian, we come here because fish medicine is effective. We were told that taking it for three consecutive years will cure us completely,” said 40-year-old Brijesh Mahender who arrived from Rajasthan.
After spending the night outdoors, the crowds will queue up to receive their dose of fish medicine after 8 p.m. on Monday.
The administration of the prasadam for asthma will begin at 11.45 p.m. on the occasion of Mrigasira Karthi , a fortnight in the Telugu calendar associated with the onset of monsoon.
The exhibition society, Hyderabad district administration and the city police are keen to ensure smooth distribution.
“Required arrangements are being made. We expect around 60,000 people, around the same number who came last year,” said Dr. D. Gangadhar Rao, vice-president of the society. The medicine will be distributed for 24 hours.
