Galata Mevlevî Ensemble
Ceremony of the “Whirling Dervishes” – Mevlevî Order from Istanbul
This evening will transport us into the world of Sufi Islamic mysticism. The “Whirling Dervishes” of the Mevlevî Order from Istanbul, whose origins go back to the Persian poet Jalal ad-Din Mu?ammad Rumi, will present the Sema ceremony, a type of religious dance that originated in the 15th century. To the sounds of an open-ended reed flute known as the “ney,” they attest to the oneness of God. As more instruments play, they then begin to spin and whirl at will, thus embracing humanity and all of creation. The traditional ritual is broken down into four parts. The first celebrates man’s birth into truth, the second praises God’s greatness and omnipotence, the third symbolizes the sacrifice of reason to love, and the fourth represents the dancers’ return to the created world. In 1925 the Mevlevî—along with all other Dervish orders—were banned by the secularly oriented government of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk; they managed to survive only by going underground. The Galata Mevlevî Ensemble is considered the best of the Order and regularly undertakes foreign tours to bring the ritual to a global audienc
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