Hyd: Famous Fish prasadam organizer Bathini Harinath Goud passes away

Hyderabad, Aug 25 : Bathini Harinath Goud, one of the Bathini brothers who administer fish prasadam to asthma patients every year at Nampally exhibition grounds in Hyderabad, passed away due to prolonged illness at his residence in Kavadiguda here on Wednesday night.

He was 84 and is survived by his wife Sunitra Devi, two daughters and two sons.
His last rites will be performed on Friday, according to family sources.
He was the last of the fourth generation Gouds distributing free fish medicine to asthma patients from across the country.

Harinath Goud was instrumental in organizing the event for the last three decades after the demise of his elder brothers. The Bathini Goud family claims to be distributing the fish medicine free of cost for the last 178 years.

The secret formula for the herbal medicine was given to their ancestor in 1845 by a saint after taking an oath from him that it would be administered free of cost.
Members of the Bathini Goud family administer the ‘wonder drug’ on ‘Mrigasira Karti’, (during the first week of June) which heralds the onset of the monsoon.
A yellow colour herbal paste prepared by the family is placed in the mouth of a live ‘murrel’ fingerling, which is then slipped through the throat of the patient. It is believed to provide much-needed relief if taken for three consecutive years.
For vegetarians, the family gives the medicine with jaggery.