This page is prepared to represent a Whirling Dervish Ceremony event taking place regularly in the middle of the Old Town Istanbul.
The venue is a historical wooden house, called by the name of its first owner from the 19th century, Abud Efendi who had been a wealthy merchant from Syria. This house was his prestigious guest house rising over the Basilica Cistern while neighboring the legendary duo, namely Hagia Sophia and Blue Mosque.
Now, the house is belonging to a non-profit and non-governmental organization called “Yücel Foundation”, which dedicates its entire budget for the student scholarships and cultural activities. This is why we do not prefer to use the titles like Whirling Dervish Show or Dervish Dance as this ceremony has always been more of a ritual.
All of the participants of this event are the followers of local Mevlevi order that could be taken like a sub-group of Sufi branches of the Islamic world. In other words, there are no professional performers, actors or musicians other than the actual members who are the carriers of this cultural tradition.
The origins of the Mevlevi order goes back to the 13th century, to the times of the founder Rumi (Mevlana Celaleddin-i “Rumi” as locals call it), who had been a well-known poet, theologian and mystic back in his time. However, the ritual has been shaped in the following centuries. The poems and musical pieces in this event are all going back to times between 14th to 18th centuries. So, we can confidently tell you that it sounds like the Ottoman times in Istanbul and helps you to get that genuine feeling of the past.
Aside the music, the Whirling Dervishes Ceremony has been formed by the movement as well. The balance of the movement is stemmed by the music. Then, the stance of the hands is important to demonstrate the human body locating itself between the sky and the earth. Meanwhile, during the ceremony, the dervishes are stopping and restarting 4 times with salutations each symbolize the levels of maturity. At the end, the goal is “to find love and being enlightened” by the main pillars of Rumi’s philosophy.
Join us at our next performance and embark on a journey of self-discovery and enlightenment through the enchanting Whirling Dervishes experience.
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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.
