Thousands of people who come to city on the occasion of Mrigasira Karthi every year for fish prasadam, administered by the Bathini Goud family, will have to visit a different venue this time. The venue for distribution of fish prasadam would be moved from the sprawling Exhibition Grounds at Nampally to the five-acre land given to the Bathini family by the state government at Katedan in Rajendernagar mandal of Ranga Reddy district.
The Bathini family has held the event on Exhibition Grounds in Nampally since 1998. Bathini Harinath Goud confirmed that Hyderabad district collectorate officials have asked them about the venue relocation. “A request has been sent to Ranga Reddy district collectorate to make necessary arrangements,” he said. Nearly 40,000 people took the “fish and jaggery prasadam” last year. A head count given by the police says 30,674 took prasadam, while the fisheries department said over 40,000 murrel fingerlings were sold. Officials said the government spends over Rs 50 lakh each year on lights, security and other facilities at the venue. The expenditure can be brought down drastically if the event is shifted to a smaller venue, they said.