The Bathini Goud family in Hyderabad hosts a peculiar exhibition every year, where they claim to provide Indians with free live fish medicine.

Since 175 years, thousands of people from all over the country have been visiting Bathini-Mrigasira Karthi Fish Prasadam, which takes place on the nights of 'Mrigasira Karti' which falls in June with the onset of the annual monsoon.

The 3cm fish is first tucked inside a live murrel or sardine fish, then dipped into a yellow herbal paste and then pressed down the throat of the suffering patients by the Goud family.

They claim that the small living fish travels wiggling its way through the human throat, pushing the phlegm and making it easier for people to breathe.

Also, the herbal dip used for the medicine remains a secret and is said to be transferred into the Goud Family by a Hindu saint in 1845.

An estimated population of 3 lac people gathered on the night of Fish Prasadam with a security force of 1000 police officers guarding on the outskirts of the exhibition.

Rights activists claim this to be an unhealthy and a ridiculous tradition.

Indian participants rest prior to receiving fish medicine from members of the Bathini Goud family at the exhibition grounds in Hyderabad

An Indian woman collects live fish prior to receiving fish medicine from members of the Bathini Goud family at the exhibition grounds in Hyderabad

The medicine has been offered by the family of the southern Indian city to patients for the last 164 years.

An Indian member of the Bathini Goud family (R) administers 'fish medicine' to a patient.

People come from all over India to try their luck with the live fish medicine.

The treatment, which is based on a secret herb formula, draws thousands of people from all over the country