Bathini Harinath Goud, who organised Hyderabad’s famous ‘fish prasadam’, dies at 84

The family, which Goud headed for around four decades, says it has been carrying on the tradition of distributing ‘fish prasadam’ for the last 178 years. According to them, administering a live snakehead murrel fish infused with a herbal paste down the throat of anyone suffering from respiratory ailments, on the day of ‘Mrigasira Karthi’, for three consecutive years, brings permanent relief.

The claim has been criticised for lacking scientific basis, but year after year, thousands of people – some years have seen more than 3 lakh people – from different corners of the country lined up at Hyderabad’s Nampally Exhibition Grounds to receive the ‘prasadam’. For those who prefer not to swallow a live fish, a ‘prasadam’ with jaggery is also made available.

Although questions have been raised about the efficacy of the ‘fish prasadam’, Goud has always maintained that the family was serving society by distributing the ‘cure’.

“He was very bold in the face of all criticism, though he never expressed much of his feelings to the family. He would tell us only to focus on service,” Deepika, wife of Goud’s younger son Amarnath, told The Indian Express.

Until a High Court order in 2013, the ‘fish prasadam’ had been called ‘fish medicine’. The court order, however, prohibited the use of the term ‘medicine’ in the name.

The complete ingredients of the ‘prasadam’ is a closely guarded secret passed on in the family through generations. Goud has said that the family received the formula in 1845 from a sage, on the condition that it would be put to use to serve society.

While the people who line up get the herbal paste free of cost, the fish are supplied by the Telangana Fisheries Department every year at Rs 40 each. The annual event has had the government’s support to the extent that it took care of the arrangements for drinking water, free meals and toilets for visitors.

When the event was held on June 9 this year, after a three-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Animal Husbandry Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav flagged off proceedings.

“He was very happy this year as we could organise the distribution after three years. From his room, he gave all instructions to Amarnath (his son) and others regarding the arrangements to be made, and visited the venue for 15-20 minutes. He was very happy with the event as lakhs of people visited,” Deepika said.

“He was the fifth generation of our family (to lead the distribution), and we will follow in his footsteps and continue the tradition. That is what he wanted,” she added.