Whirling Dervishes at Mevlana Festival 2024 in Turkey

Though ecstatic whirling ceremonies might be experienced in many cities of Turkey, the rite's birthplace city of Konya is unmissable one

Dates: early December–December 17

Few haven't heard of Turkish Whirling Dervishes—a masterpiece of the UNESCO's Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Ecstatic spinning accompanied by playing orchestra and chanting chorus is a truly spellbinding spectacle. The mystic dance is actually a unique form of worship. The whirl itself symbolizes the universe; the right hand of Dervish points to heaven to take God's wellness, and the left one points to the ground to pass that goodness to people.

Origins of the Whirling Dervish

The ritual is a part of the Sema ceremony practised by the Mevlevi Order in Islam. It was founded in 13th century by a Sufi (mystic) poet named Jelaleddin or Celaleddin Rumi. The poet lived in the city of Konya for the last 45 years of his life until his so-called "wedding night"—in mid-December of 1273 Rumi departed from this physical world and reunited with his Beloved God.

Whirling Dervish Ceremony in Konya (December 7-17, 2024)

Today everyone can feel Rumi's spirit and enjoy the unique form of worship at Mevlana Festival, also known as the Şeb-i Arus Festival. It's held annually in mid-December in the city of Konya and is attended by millions of visitors. If you wonder, it doesn't matter whether you're Muslim or not—these performances gather people of different beliefs and backgrounds, and all of them feel mutual peace, love, and acceptance. That was the main message of Rumi—to live together in harmony.

The ceremony takes place in the Mevlana Museum, at the Melvana Cultural Center in the Sema Hall, or the İrfan Cultural Center. All of the locations are situated within walking distance of each other. The performances take place at varying hours in different locations, but in Melvana Cultural Center, the ceremonies are scheduled at 2 pm, 7 pm, and 8 pm from December 7th to December 17th. Tickets start at 150 Turkish lira.

Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul & Other Cities

Similar Whirling Dervish performances take place on a regular basis in the city of Ankara and Istanbul, in the region of Cappadocia, and other places. The Hodjapasha Culture Center in Istanbul hosts dervish ceremonies at 7 pm daily, with occasional showings at 5 and 8:30 pm. Tickets for adults cost $40, while children's passes can be purchased for $22.86. Photography is not allowed during the ceremony. The entire experience lasts around an hour, with the dervish ceremony spanning approximately 45 minutes.