Whirling Dervishes Ceremony in Istanbul

Overview

Watch the Mevlevi whirling dervishes perform the Sema ceremony at the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre in Istanbul: a one-hour evening of Sufi music and meditation.

The Sema is the 800-year-old ritual of the Mevlevi tradition, rooted in the teachings of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi and inscribed on UNESCO's list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In the restored Ottoman bathhouse of the Hodjapasha Cultural Centre in Sirkeci, the evening begins with a 15-minute concert of classical Turkish music on traditional instruments.

The ceremony itself lasts about 45 minutes: in white robes and tall felt hats, the semazens turn with one palm raised to the sky and the other turned to the earth, a symbol of receiving divine grace and passing it on. Silence is kept throughout and photography is not allowed, so the hall stays calm and contemplative. Complimentary drinks and Turkish delight are offered before the show.