Thousands take ‘fish prasadam’

Fisheries Department arranges 50,000 fingerlings for the one-day-long annual event. The fingerlings are being sold at Rs.15 a piece, Rs. 5 higher than previous years.

HYDERABAD,TELANGANA,08/06/2015: Large crowds make their way to the sprawling Exhibition Grounds at Nampally in Hyderabad from Monday afternoon for the annual fish ‘prasadam’ that was administered by the Bathini family --Photo: Nagara Gopal

Fish ‘prasadam’ was administered to thousands of people who thronged the exhibition grounds on Monday which marked the beginning of Mrigasira Karthi.

The Fisheries Department arranged 50,000 fingerlings to be available for the 24-hour event which began 11.45 p.m. at Exhibition Grounds with another 80,000 fingerlings available on demand at Rajendranagar.

The fingerlings are being sold at Rs.15 a piece, Rs. 5 higher than previous years.

The ‘prasadam’ is a traditional medicine prepared by the Bathini Goud family, which has secretly guarded the formula even as it claims their preparation cure treat asthma if taken as prescribed.

After the first dose administered on Monday, six other doses are prescribed for three consecutive fortnights.

Patients are also being asked to come back for three consecutive years for complete cure besides, following a diet regimen prescribed on the family’s website.

Last year, around 58,000 persons had availed the prasdam.

This time the organisers expect a bigger turnout.

From other districts

Most of the people, who queued up for the medicine were from outside Hyderabad, though many people from the city arrived at the venue assuming that the medicine was being given during the day.

Denizens from the city are expected to arrive in bigger numbers on Tuesday. The event will end around 11.45 p.m.