The Whirling Dervishes are members of the Mevlevi Order, a Sufi order founded by the followers of Rumi. This practice emerged from the Sufi Muslim tradition, seeking to achieve a closer connection to God through meditation and spiritual practices.
The "whirling" itself is a form of physically active meditation, where participants engage in a spinning dance, representing a spiritual journey toward the maturity. Through this dance, they aim to reach a state of transcendence and unity with the divine. The whirling dervish ritual is known as the "Sema" ceremony.
During the Sema, dervishes dress in symbolic attire: long white robes with full skirts (symbolizing shrouds for the ego), a broad black cloak (representing worldly attachments), and conical hats (symbolizing tombstones of the ego). The ceremony consists of several parts, including prayer, music by a traditional ensemble, and the whirling itself.
Dervishes whirl ...
The Whirling Dervishes are members of the Mevlevi Order, a Sufi order founded by the followers of Rumi. This practice emerged from the Sufi Muslim tradition, seeking to achieve a closer connection to God through meditation and spiritual practices.
The "whirling" itself is a form of physically active meditation, where participants engage in a spinning dance, representing a spiritual journey toward the maturity. Through this dance, they aim to reach a state of transcendence and unity with the divine. The whirling dervish ritual is known as the "Sema" ceremony.
During the Sema, dervishes dress in symbolic attire: long white robes with full skirts (symbolizing shrouds for the ego), a broad black cloak (representing worldly attachments), and conical hats (symbolizing tombstones of the ego). The ceremony consists of several parts, including prayer, music by a traditional ensemble, and the whirling itself.
Dervishes whirl in a circle, using their right hand to accept the blessings of heaven and their left hand turned downward to the earth, symbolically channeling the blessings of God to earth. The spinning creates a sense of ecstatic abandon and unity with God, reflecting the core Sufi principles of love and the dissolution of the self in the divine.
There are different ways of performing the ritual for the Sufi people all around the world. The Turkish tradition formed by the followers of Rumi contains in three languages; Turkish, Arabic and Persian. The poetic pieces sang are usually of Persian language while the Qur’anic citations are Arabic. The community prayers like the final words are Turkish.
The breaks between whirling parts start by salutations and they represent the progress in maturity. The first act is about recognizing your physical limitations as humans and the second is where they are stunned by the scale of creations and universe. This is why it is the short and sharp one. The third stage is about learning how to be in harmony with the world when the music is accelerating. During the fourth one they reach a level where they can go even without music.
Immerse yourself in the mystical melodies of traditional Sufi music
Witness the sacred Whirling Dervishes in their traditional Sema ritual
Discover the profound meanings behind Sufi traditions and practices
Learn about the wisdom of Mevlana Rumi and the philosophy of love and unity
The Galata Mevlevi House had been first founded in 1491 by İskender Pasha, one of the officials of the reigns of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror. The Mevlevl House, which was expanded with various additions over time and became a complete religious order complex, was built on a part of the hunting farm belonging to İskender Pasha, probably on the ruins of the H. Theodoros Monastery.
It can be assumed that Galata Mevlevi House was also damaged in the earthquake of 1509, which is referred to as “apocalypse-i suğrâ” in Ottoman sources. After the death of the fourth postnisha, Mesnevîhan Mahmud Dede, the house fell into disrepair and was used as a Halvetî lodge for a while and then as a madrasah. At the beginning of the 17th century, Sheikh Sırrı Abdi Dede, who was appointed by the chieftaincy authority in Konya, carried out a major repair in 1608.
The Galata Mevlevîhân was devastated in the great Tophane fire of 1765, and the sultan of the period, Mustafa III, appointed Osman Efendi of Yenişehirli as the building trustee and had it rebuilt. The other renovation, in which important changes were made in the layout of the Mevlevîhân, was the work of Selim III, a Mevlevî follower. After the famous divan poet Sheikh Galib, who was the postnisha of the Mevlevîhân at the time of Selim III's accession to the throne, informed the Sultan that the lodge was in need of repair with a petition attached to his poem “Kasîde-i Tannâne”, Selim III renovated the buildings of the Mevlevîhân in 1791.
Many renovations, repairs and alterations were made to this Dervish House in the 19th century. The first of these was the reconstruction activity carried out in 1819 by Hâlet Efendi, one of the famous statesman figures of Mahmud II's era to his grandson Abdulhamid II’s reign to the 20th century.
Rumi’s works are rich with emotion and vivid imagery, drawing on elements of nature like trees, oceans, the sky, clouds, and gardens to evoke a vibrant tapestry of life. Despite their poetic essence, these pieces remain highly relevant in today's modern world as well, offering insights and reflections that resonate with contemporary challenges and experiences.
Sufi groups represent a diverse tapestry of spiritual practices and teachings that stretch from Morocco in the west to China in the east. These groups trace their origins back to the time of the earliest times of history of Islam.
Over the centuries, Sufism has manifested in various forms, adapting to the cultural and historical contexts of different regions.
Among these, the Mevlevi Order stands out as a distinctive sub-group, established in 13th-century Anatolia by the followers of the Persian poet and philosopher Jalal ad-Din Rumi.
Known for their whirling dervishes and deep spiritual poems, the Mevlevis emphasize love, tolerance, and a direct, personal connection with the divine, illustrating the rich diversity within the broader Sufi tradition.
Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî had, in his health, called his final day in this world “the Wedding Day” as he saw it a “runion” with the divine love. A big and spectacular Whirling Dervish ceremony is held on the anniversaries of this night, at every 17th of December.
The Whirling Dervishes are members of the Mevlevi Order, a Sufi order founded by the followers of Rumi. This practice emerged from the Sufi Muslim tradition, seeking to achieve a closer connection to God through meditation and spiritual practices.
