Fish Cures Asthma

India is a diverse country with many rituals and beliefs. There is Kali temple in Kolkata constructed by the city’s Chinese community that serves noodles as ‘prasad’; then there’s a Dog temple in Karnataka dedicated to mankind’s most faithful companion. India is also the land of many sages who have shaped the societal norms for us. Part of one such belief is Hyderabad’s Fish Prasadam. This is an annual thing which is administered by the Bathini brothers for over a hundred years. They are passing down this medicine for five generations.

In fish prasadam, a live fish is fed to patients suffering from asthma or any other respiratory illness. A yellow colored herbal paste is stuffed in the mouth of a live fish mostly murrel or any other fingerling and then the fish is slipped down the throat of a patient. Throughout the process, live fish is used. The event is organized on the day of Mrigasira Karti that marks the onset of monsoon as per the Hindu calendar. The prasadam has to be taken three times within 45 days. These three days are on Arudra, Punarvasu, and Pushyami. There are certain terms and conditions associated with this treatment, for example, the patients are asked to follow a strict diet prescribed by the Bathini family and are strictly directed no to eat 27 food items.

fish

The state provides complete support to the Bathini family in addition to several NGOs. The fisheries department provides thousands of fingerlings. Some arrange for free food, water, and buttermilk for the patients. The prasadam is administered at the Exhibition Grounds. There is a separate prasadam for the vegetarians which is made with jaggery. People who have been cured need to continue the medicine for four more years. As the vegetarians are not gulping in live fish it takes more time for them to cure.

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