Whirling Dervish Show
The captivating and mesmerizing one-hour performance of the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, held at the Cultural Center in the heart of Istanbul, will deeply move you.
The captivating and enchanting one-hour performance of the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony, held at the Cultural Center in central Istanbul, will deeply move you. You will witness the graceful movements of the whirling dervishes, named after Jalaluddin Rumi (1207–1273) and known as Mevlâna, and experience the subtleties of the great Sufi tradition. The word Sema, with a history spanning over eight centuries, literally means "to hear." To listen to the music, feel it in the heart, and express the inner world through the language of dance constitutes the essence of this ceremony. Sufis aim to draw closer to God; for Mevlâna, Sema is a spiritual path where prayer, music, and transformation unite. The performance is based on the idea that everything in the universe—from atoms to the solar system, from blood circulating in living bodies—revolves with divine love. Through Sema, our soul embarks on a mystical and spiritual journey toward God, gains wisdom, and attains a sense of unity. After the journey, the human spirit returns to the world and continues to serve humanity. This impressive performance begins with a classical Turkish music concert, followed by the seven-part Sema ceremony. The Semazen and the Sheikh take their places, invoke the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and this invocation stirs powerful emotion in the audience. Then the sound of the drum is heard, and the seven parts are presented one by one. Extraordinary dervishes whirl to symbolize the birth of humanity and reach Sema. The Sema concludes with the recitation of Fatiha for the souls of all prophets, martyrs, and believers, and prayers for the salvation of the country. This unique tradition, selected in 2010 by the Turkey Tourist Guides Federation as the best authentic local event, was declared by UNESCO in 2005 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In fact, the most suitable place to watch the dervishes is undoubtedly Konya, the city where the Mevlevi Order was founded in the 13th century. As Mevlâna Jalaluddin Rumi said: "Travel brings power and love back into your life."
