Whirling Dervishes Ceremony in Istanbul Every Thursday
33 EUR
Discover the story of Sufism, learn about Istanbul’s present-day Sufi community, and experience a Whirling Dervishes ceremony first-hand in an authentic Sufi monastery.
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Available in
- English,
- Spanish,
- German,
- Italian,
- Russian,
- French,
- Estonian,
- Japanese,
- Dutch,
- Swedish,
- Norwegian,
- Danish,
- Portuguese
Highlights
- Visit an authentic Sufi monastery
- Experience a Whirling Dervishes ceremony first-hand
- Get to know the history of Sufism
- Learn about Istanbul’s present-day Sufi community
Description
Spend an evening discovering the story of Sufism and learning about Istanbul’s present-day Sufi community. You’ll meet members of the local Sufi community, visit their monastery, hear their music, and experience a Whirling Dervishes ceremony first-hand.
Known to the west as the Whirling Dervishes, the Mevlevi Order was founded by Mevlana Rumi in the 13th century. The Order wrote of tolerance, forgiveness, and enlightenment. Today, they survive as a cultural brotherhood. Their practises are not theatrical spectacles, but sacred rituals.
The ceremony of the Mevlevi Order, known as the sema, is a serious religious ritual performed by Muslim priests in a prayer-induced trance. Mevlevi believe that during the sema the soul is released from earthly ties and able to freely and jubilantly commune with the divine. Dervish literally means ‘doorway’, representing an entrance from the material world to the spiritual, heavenly world.
Ceremonies take place in an authentic Sufi monastery every Thursday evening.
What’s included & not included
- Transport to the monastery
- Tea
- Tips
Meeting point
Şengüler Tourism: İshak Paşa Caddesi 6