A large number of people from different parts of Kashmir including men, women, and children can be seen in the Hazrat Bal area of Srinagar City to get Leech therapy done on the eve of Navroz.
21 March is celebrated as Navroz in many parts of the world to mark the first days of the Spring Season. Kashmir also celebrates the Navroz as the first day of the spring season. Besides planting new tree saplings, people throng the practitioners of leech therapy. It is believed that this treatment is more effective on the days of Navroz than on other days.
“I had leech therapy on my feet last year and it was very effective as my frostbites were cured and this year I came to do the same to my hands as they are suffering from the same problem,” says Bilal Ahmad. Bilal hails from the Batpora area of Srinagar city which is almost 7 kilometers away from Hazratbal where leech therapy is performed.
The European medicinal leech, Hirudo Medicinalis, is one of the several species of leeches used for medicinal therapy.
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