Price
55 min.
Group Tour
30
Any Language
The whirling dervishes are an integral part of Sufi culture and religion, a mystic tradition of the Islamic faith. The spinning of the dervishes, or Sema ritual, revolves around a spinning motion in which the dervish moves in circles while wrapped in a long white garment. This ritual is seen as a commitment to God and its symbolic significance is widely respected…
The whirling dervishes are an integral part of Sufi culture and religion, a mystic tradition of the Islamic faith. The spinning of the dervishes, or Sema ritual, revolves around a spinning motion in which the dervish moves in circles while wrapped in a long white garment. This ritual is seen as a commitment to God and its symbolic significance is widely respected.
The ritual stems from the teachings of the thirteenth century poet, Mevlana Rumi. Rumi was a visceral poet, and his ecstatic works often dealt with themes of divine love, earning him the title of father of the whirling dervishes. He taught his followers that by spinning in unison, they could become more spiritually connected to God. Therefore, the spin of the dervish is an act of commitment to the divine.
The Sema ceremony is usually composed of four parts. The first part is the ecstatic weaving of a prayer rug, symbolizing the dervish’s relationship with God. A choir then begins singing and chanting, as the mournful notes of traditional Turkish music fill the air. During the second part of the ceremony, the dervish bows to both sides of the room to symbolize their acknowledgement of the glory of the divine.
The third part of the ceremony is the whirling itself. Wearing a black robe, the dervish will spin around in circles, arms crossed and eyes closed, to demonstrate their love of God. It is said that in this stage, the dervish transcends physical boundaries as they become completely absorbed in divine fervor.
The last part of the ceremony is a dance which symbolizes the final letting go of the self and rejoices in the knowledge that God’s love is always present. The dervishes move around the room in an intricate manner, eventually forming a circle to accompany the singers and the musicians.
The whirling dervishes are an indelible part of Sufi culture and religion, representing a spin towards the divine. Through their ecstatic spinning, the dervishes demonstrate commitment and surrender to the power of the divine. The whirling ritual is a display of reverence and awe for the transcendental power of God.
Everyday at 19:00
Watch the mystical ritual of the Mevlevi Order, whose whirling dance has been declared a UNESCO Heritage of Humanity.
The Sema ceremony is a journey through man’s spiritual ascent to “perfection” through mind and love-a truly unmissable and astonishing experience of music and moves.
Exhibition features Information displays about dervishes and their ceremony, objects belonging to the world of dervishes such as clothing, musical instruments and personal tools, books. Also Interactive Rumi poems and sufi music samples, Hyperrealist style dervish statues and Video shows are part of this unique exhibition.
Sufi Music Concert: 10 min
Whirling Dervishes Ceremony (SEMA): 45 min
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6 Comments
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Visiting the Istanbul Naval Museum and seeing ancient ships and maritime artifacts was fascinating.
Attending a Turkish music concert introduced us to the mesmerizing sounds of traditional instruments like the oud.