Thousands flocked to Hyderabad in southern India for the annual 'fish prasadam’, a bizarre event that sees attendees swallowing live fish as a treatment for asthma.

Footage from the day (June 8) shows administers of the ‘fish medicine’ putting murrel fish stuffed with a yellow herbal paste into the patients’ mouths.

The patients then gulp down the fish and gag as the wriggling 5cm-long creatures slip into their throats.

The fish is believed to clear the throat on their way down and cure asthma along with other respiratory problems.

The Bathini Goud Family, which distributes the bizarre medicine, believes the fish clear the throat curing asthma along with other respiratory problems.

People throng to Hyderabad for the annual 'fish prasadam' (live fish) ritual commenced on June 08. More than 100,000 people participated from different states. It is believed that public who are suffering with respiratory problems including Asthma will get relief totally.The people are advised not to drink water until 30 minutes after the 'prasadam' is consumed.The Bathini Goud family distributes the ‘prasadam’ free of cost to the patients and they want the patients to take the ‘prasadam’ for three consecutive years in order to get cured completely.The medicine consists of a yellow herbal paste, the ingredients of which have remained a family secret. The paste is first stuffed into a live three cm-long murrel fish which is then slipped into the throat of the patient. As the fish carrying the paste wriggles inside the person’s throat, it helps tackle respiratory conditions.