Whirling Dervish Sect - Sufi (performing a dance to connect with God)

I really enjoyed learning about western Turkey and one of the places that is intriguing is the old capital of the Anatolian Seljuk Empire of Konya which at present time is Turkey’s most religious city and home to the mystic Whirling Dervish sect.

My day started with a visit to Mevlana Tekke, a museum and national museum. It has a beautiful fluted turquoise dome and is a home to the tomb of the Whirling Dervishes’ founder. Whirling Dervish as the name suggests, is famous for the practise of whirling as part of Sufi’s ritual to connect to God.

A beautiful Turqoise Dome

After seeing the Karatay Medrese and Ince Minaret, the night continued with a quick rest and then I headed to a performance of the Whirling Dervish ritual of Sema. The performance was held in a beautiful exotic and mystical place, makes me feel like I’m in one of the Lawrence of Arabias story book.

Mai in the courtyard of Karatay Medrese

The stage of the Sema Ceremony in the evening

Before the Sema ceremony starts which involves whirling, a dozen people walked onto a stage wearing white gowns, black cloaks and brown high caps. They look like angels. Watching Sema ceremony feels like I’m watching a musical or opera act, it gives you goose bumps and a soothing feeling at the same time.

I was told the Sema ceremony was broken up into four parts so its like opening, middle, main then closing. In the middle of the ceremony, the twirling starts, they twirl in the same axis with its skirt up and a beautiful poise of head tilting in one side with arms stretched – one palm faces up and the other palm faces down. The gown stretches as the twirling begins.

Related posts:

1. Turkey Trip – a whole summary (details to come..)
2. Turkey – Istanbul (Bosphorus Cruise)
3. Turkey – Gallipoli (Gelibolu)
4. Turkey – Ephesus (Kusadasi)
5. Turkey – Cotton Castle, Hierapolis (Pamukkale)