WHIRLING DERVISHES CEREMONY IN ISTANBUL

This is love: to fly toward a secret sky,to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.

By Mevlana C.Rumi

The dance of whirling dervishes which transfixes audiences, is known as Sema.The Mevlevi are guided by the teachings of Celaleddin Rumi, known as Mevlana (Our Guide)He was born in 1207 .

Rumi was a briliant student of Islamıc theology who became influenced by Şemsi Tebrizi ,a Sufi (Muslım mystic) disciple The Mevlevi order was outlawed by Atatürk in the 1920s as part of his reforms but in 1950s the Turkısh government recognised the tourist potential for ‘’whirling’’ and the Konya Mevlana Festival was born.

Today Mevlevi order is stil technically outlawed in the counrty . Hope this helps you a bit about history of Dervishes.

Today ,the one of them is still performing in Sultanahmet area . If you stay or go to Istanbul, we highly recommend to watch it because it is in old wooden house and close to coastal road.

The place that you can watch the Whirling Dervishes ceremony called Dede Efendi House which is old wooden house. Actually its a museum now, you can visit the museum before or after the performance for free.

Sema ceremony consists of seven parts The first part; while whirling his arms are open, his right hand directed to the sky ready to receive God’s beneficiance, looking to his left hand turn toward the earth, he turns from right to left around the heart . This is his way of conveying God’s spiritual gift to people

The second part is a drom voice, symbolizing God order to the creation

The third part is an instrumental improvisation taksim with ney. It represents the first breath of mankind

The fourth part is the dervishes greetings to each other.

The fifth part is Sema, It consist of four selam's(whirling). At the end of each selam as in the onset, the dervishes testify by his appearance to God’s unity

The sixth part Sema ends with a reading of the Quran and especially of the verse from Sura Bakara 2 ,verse 115
The East and the West belong to Allah, whereever you turn, you are faced with him. He is All Embracing, All-Knowing

The seventh part is a prayer fort he repose of the souls of all Prophets and all believers

DAYS AVAILABLE : Thuesday - Thursday - Saturday - Sunday

START TIME : 19.30 ENDS 20:30

INCLUDED : Ceremony

NOTE : This ceremony is located in Sultanahmet , there is no transfer facilities.

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