Annual Fish ‘Prasadam’ Gets Tremendous Response Despite Opposition By ‘Rationalists’

Hyderabad: The Exhibition Grounds in Nampally witnessed huge crowds on Thursday morning for the annual fish 'prasadam', which is said to be a cure for asthma, despite opposition by 'rationalists' for the conducting the event.

The counters opened at sharp 9 am and people from the Telugu states besides those from Karnataka and Maharashtra queued up since the wee hours in the morning. The Bathini Goud family which prepares and administers the 'prasadam' is supported by several volunteer organisations such as the Sant Nirankari. Also, NCC cadets and scouts are handling the crowd management and traffic at the venue.

The state government had roped in several departments for the peaceful conduct of the event which is said to last for 24 hours. Besides the fisheries department, the traffic and GHMC have deployed personnel to oversee arrangements at the Exhibition Grounds. State minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav said that enough 'murrel' variety of fish have been procured for the administration of fish 'prasadam'.

Meanwhile, rationalist groups such as the Jana Vigyana Vedika (JVV) and other groups are continuing their protest against the programme stating that there is no scientific basis that the 'prasadam' cures asthma.