Bathini Fish Medicine For Asthma Patients On June 8

The administration of the Bathini brothers' "fish prasadam" for Asthma patients will start on the Mrigasira Karthi day on June 8 this year at 9 am, and will continue until 9 am on June 9.

The medicine, stuffed in live fish, will be administered at the Exhibition grounds at Nampally.

Addressing the media today, Bathini Harinath Goud said that the "fish prasadam" was given on the day of Mrigasira Karti, which marked the onset of the monsoon according to the Hindu calendar. On that day, the Bathini brothers put herbal paste into the mouths of live sardine fish measuring 2 to 3 inches, and push the fish into the patients' throats.

"For vegetarians, we prepare a separate medicine with jaggery. However, vegetarians need to take the prasadam for a longer period," Goud said.

The prasadam is administered thrice in a period of 45 days. The portions of the medicine given at the venue after the administration of the fish medicine should be taken on the days of Arudra (June 22), Punarvasu (July 6) and Pushyami (July 20).

"However, one must strictly avoid 24 items that we suggest, and adhere to the diet prescribed by us - otherwise the fish prasadam will not give desired results," Goud said.

The government is fully supporting the event, as always. Yesterday Fisheries Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav held a review meeting with all the concerned departments' heads and ordered them to provide all the necessary amenities, and the required lakhs of fish. He further said that a number of social service organizations were extending support for the smooth conduct of the distribution of the medicine, including food and water for the visiting patients.

The Bathini family has been administering the proprietary medicine every year to asthma patients for free for over 175 years - i. e. since 1845. The last four generations of the family have been involved in the activity.