Fish prasadam Distributed to Asthma Patients in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Just like they had done for over 175 years, people hopeful of a cure for their asthma lined up to take the fish medicine that is given free by the Bathini Goud family. Among them at the Exhibition Grounds, Nampally, was Bilal Singh, who had travelled from Kota, Rajasthan.

“My daughter and I suffer from asthma, and we have tried everything from allopathy to homoeopathy but nothing worked. Many people recommended that I come to Hyderabad to get the fish prasadam, so I came here,” Singh told Deccan Chronicle.

This was the 179th year that the Bathini Goud family carried forward the tradition of distributing the fish prasadam free. The event on Sunday, Mrigasira Karthe, attracted thousands of people from across the country. The 24-hour distribution began at 9 am, amid tight security and extensive arrangements by the state government.

Those who could not get the fish prasadam at the venue can get it at the Bathini Goud family home at Doodhbowli.

The fish prasadam is a secret herbal paste stuffed into the mouth of a murrel fingerling, which is swallowed live. It is believed that the herbal paste offers relief to people suffering from asthma and other respiratory conditions. The prasadam formula is believed to have been passed on to a family elder by a holy man.

Faith surrounding the prasadam attracts people from far and wide, though its scientific basis is debated.

Vijay Jeet Singh from Ludhiana, Punjab, was a first-timer. “I heard about the prasadam curing asthma from a friend. My younger sister has been struggling with breathing problems since childhood. I hope this prasadam cures her problems.”

In the queue on Sunday, a Deccan Chronicle team saw people from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Maharashtra and Odisha, among others, gather at the Exhibition Grounds. Some of them had waited since 3 am.

Bathini Shiva Goud, a Bathini family member and a key organiser, said “We have 32 stalls, where volunteers are giving the fish prasadam. There has been a huge influx of people, and many came last night and stood in lines since morning.”

“More than 500 volunteers came from a foundation to help us distribute the prasadam, and we are expecting at least four lakh people to take the prasadam. For 24 hours, we will give the prasadam here. Tomorrow (Monday), we will distribute the prasadam again at our house at Doodhbowli for another 24 hours”, Shiva Goud added.

Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav, TPCC president Bomma Mahesh Kumar Goud and other leaders inaugurated the event.

One of the concerning issues was the missing hygiene protocol at the event. Against the backdrop of rising Covid-19 cases, and with people coming from different states, there is a lack of health protocol. Most of the workers did not wear gloves while feeding the prasadam, and masks were a rarity.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, ACP L. Ramesh Kumar said “We have about 1,500 police officers deputed in and around the Exhibition Grounds. We are constantly monitoring and assisting people at the event. We will make sure no law and order problem arises.”

Despite the heat, devotees stood patiently in lines, many with paper fans and water bottles. Authorities, for the first time at the event, introduced block-wise line movement at the event, which not only helped the crowds move faster, but also helped organisers facilitate necessary commodities to people.

Five emergency medical camps were set up across the premises to provide the attendees with basic medical help in case of need. Dr Sandeep, at one of the camps, said, “We have oxygen tanks, beds and medications ready at the camps. We also have two ambulances at every camp ready to take the patients to Osmania Hospital in case of a serious emergency.”

“We are administering medicines for issues like fever, dehydration, cold and gastrointestinal issues here. We have saline bottles, ORS and medications in heavy quantities, as we have a lot of people who come from across India,” he said.

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) set up multiple free drinking water stalls across the venue, while independent charitable organisations distributed free food and snacks to people. The murrel fingerlings were provided by the fisheries department.