Thousands gather for fish prasadam

Thousands from across the country flocked to Exhibition Grounds at Nampally for the annual fish prasadam, held on ‘Mrigasira Karti’, the day marking the onset of monsoon according to the Hindu calendar.

Thousands from across the country flocked to Exhibition Grounds at Nampally on June 8 for the annual fish prasadam, held on ‘Mrigasira Karti’, the day marking the onset of monsoon according to the Hindu calendar.

The Bathini family administers the prasadam by inserting a yellow paste into the mouth of a live fingerling, which is then slipped into the throat of an asthma patient. They claim this remedy cures asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Though the distribution began at 9 a.m., crowds started gathering as early as 6 a.m. Praveen Yashwantrao Patil, who travelled from Jalgaon, Maharashtra, said, “My relative took the prasadam last year and his asthma was cured. So, I am here this year.”

R.K. Tiwari, 50, from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, arrived at 6.30 a.m. for his second visit. “My niece was cured a few years ago. This time, I am here for my grand-daughter, who has asthma,” he said.

There were four time slots, first from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., second from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., third slot from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Saturday and last slot from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Sunday.