Hyderabad: On Sunday, thousands of people with asthma and breathing problems gathered at the Exhibition Grounds for the well-known ‘Fish Prasadam’ offered by the Bathini family during Mrigashira Karte.
By midnight, nearly 80,000 individuals had received the prasadam, and the numbers were expected to exceed 100,000 by Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, a man in his seventies suffered a heart attack while waiting in line.
The Bathini Goud family, following a long-standing tradition, began with a pooja early in the morning. They started distributing the prasadam at 9:30 am. The event was inaugurated by Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, alongside PCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, Fisheries Corporation Chairman M Sai Kumar, and others.
The herbal remedy, a paste paired with a Murrel fish, is placed in the patient’s mouth. Many believe it can cure asthma if taken for four years in a row. However, scientists and experts have questioned its effectiveness. Despite fewer attendees in recent years, many people continue to visit, even returning for multiple years. The prasadam was not available during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To ensure a smooth experience, authorities set up 42 queue lines with separate sections for managing the crowd. Security was tight, with police maintaining the lines. Visitors came not only from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh but also from states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Some people arrived late Saturday night hoping for relief from their persistent ailments.
The government provided fish, drinking water, lighting, and special buses. Philanthropic organizations supported by offering food, tea, and other services. The Badrivishal Pannalal Pitti Trust, Agarwal Samaj, and Kanyakubz Samaj organized a large food camp. Jaiswal Samaj and Jadhav Seva Mahila Mandal provided evening snacks.
During the event, Ponnam Prabhakar praised the Bathini family’s contributions to society, suggesting they deserve the Padma Shri award. He mentioned the state government’s support through eleven departments and commended the Badrivishal Pannalal Pitti Trust for their early preparation and assistance to visitors.
PCC Chief Mahesh Goud shared his personal experience, saying he overcame asthma with the Fish Prasadam. He noted that despite pressure from pharmaceutical companies, the Bathini family continued their service. He urged the state government to acknowledge their efforts.
