Whirling Dervishes Show Istanbul
Not a folk show but a religious rite. The Mevlevi Sema is a Sufi ceremony of remembrance, and UNESCO lists it as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The turning is a form of meditation, intended to bring the practitioner into harmony with the rest of creation.
- At the gate
- £17
- Allow
- 1h 30m
- District
- Sultanahmet
- Closed
- Open daily
The Sema ceremony, in short
Not a folk show but a religious rite. The Mevlevi Sema is a Sufi ceremony of remembrance, and UNESCO lists it as Intangible Cultural Heritage. The turning is a form of meditation, intended to bring the practitioner into harmony with the rest of creation.
The order traces to Jalu0101l ad-Du012bn Ru016bmu012b, the 13th-century poet and mystic, whose followers formalised the practice after his death in Konya.
What it costs
Booked separately this is u20ac20. Included on the pass.
Where it happens
At the Ku0131zlarau011fasu0131 Medrese in the old city u2014 a restored Ottoman theological college, which is a far more fitting room for it than a hotel function suite.
How long to allow
About an hour. Arrive 15 minutes early; latecomers are not seated once the ceremony has begun.
What happens
The ceremony follows a fixed structure: the Naat, a eulogy to the Prophet; a ney flute improvisation; the peu015frev; the Devr-i Veledi procession; and then four salams, the turning sections, each representing a stage on the path.
The dervish holds the right palm upward to receive and the left downward to pass on, turning on the left foot. The tall felt hat represents the tombstone of the ego, the white skirt its shroud.
How to watch
Applause is not appropriate, and photography is usually restricted during the turning itself. Treat it as you would a service rather than a performance, and it becomes a far better hour.
Frequently asked questions
- At the Ku0131zlarau011fasu0131 Medrese in the old city, a restored Ottoman theological college.
- A set sequence: the Naat in praise of the Prophet, a ney flute taksim, the peu015frev, the Devr-i Veledi procession, then four salams of turning.
- Done properly it takes years. Practitioners describe it as building balance, stability and calm; the turn is on the left foot with the right palm raised.
- Usually not during the turning itself. It is a religious ceremony rather than a performance u2014 follow the venue's guidance on the night.