People in Kashmir celebrate Persian New Year with leech therapy

Hundreds of people gathered in Srinigar, Indian-administered Kashmir, on Friday, for a leech therapy clinic. Friday is the start of Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and it is traditionally believed that leech treatments are more effective on this day. The World’s Carol Hills spoke with reporter Syed Shahriyar about what he saw at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinigar, how leech therapy works and why Nowruz is celebrated like this in Kashmir.

Will you support The World?

The story you just read is not locked behind a paywall because listeners and readers like you generously support our nonprofit newsroom. Now more than ever, we need your help to support our global reporting work and power the future of The World. Can we count on you?