Organiser Of Hyderabad's Famous 'Fish Prasadam' Bathini Harinath Goud Passes Away

The 'fish prasadam' has been administered on the day of 'Mrigasira Karthi' every year, free of cost, by the Hyderabad-based Bathini family.

Bathini Harinath Goud

Source : ABP Desam

The organiser of the annual administration of 'fish prasadam' to asthma patients in Hyderabad, Bathini Harinath Goud, passed away at his residence in Kavadiguda on Wednesday due to ill health at the age of 84, PTI reported. Goud was ill in the past few weeks. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters. Goud's funeral will be held on Friday.

The 'fish prasadam' (consisting of murrel fish and herbal paste) has been administered on the day of 'Mrigasira Karthi' every year, free of cost, by the city-based Bathini family.

It is believed to possess medicinal properties and can potentially cure respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis. The formula for the 'fish prasadam' is said to have been passed down to a family elder by a holy man.

The medicinal properties of the 'fish prasadam' have often been questioned by scientists, rationalists, and others. However, thousands of people arrive in the city every year to receive the 'prasadam'.

According to an IANS report, the Bathini Goud family claims to have been distributing the fish medicine free of cost for the last 178 years. A yellow-coloured herbal paste prepared by the family is placed in the mouth of a live 'murrel' fingerling, which is then slipped down the throat of the patient. It is believed to provide relief if taken for three consecutive years. For vegetarians, the family provides the medicine with jaggery.

Harinath Goud had recently stated that they had prepared the fifth and sixth generations of the family to continue the tradition. The children of Harinath Goud and his four brothers all take part in the preparation of the herbal medicine.

The event was held on June 9 this year after a three-year gap due to the COVID-19 pandemic.