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 Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul

 

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Mevlevi dervishes perform the whirling sema ceremony with traditional orchestra at Istanbul's Galata Mevlevihanesi (a dervish tekke, or hall) in Beyoglu every Sunday afternoon, and some Saturday afternoons, all year.

Several different dervish groups share the tekke and whirl on different days.

The Galata semas are authentic and very popular with tourists, and all seats are often sold out, sometimes in advance. You cannot just go to the Galata Mevlevihanesi and expect to buy a ticket at the time of the sema. You may be able to, but you will probably be disappointed. (If you do decide to chance it, go several hours before the time of the sema.)

The best way to assure that you'll be able to see the dervishes is to go to the Galata Mevlevihanesi a day or more in advance of the sema you want to see, or contact one of the several groups that perform the sema, and buy your tickets for it.

The problem, of course, is that you may not be in Istanbul a day or more before the sema, so how do you get tickets? There is currently no organized way to buy tickets by phone or on the Internet.

If you have reserved a hotel room for your Istanbul stay, your hotel may be willing to send someone to buy tickets for you. They may charge a fee for this service, as it is an expense for them. A travel agency may also be willing to buy you tickets (for a service fee), especially if you are also reserving other services through them, such as hotels, rental cars or tours.

Contemporary Lovers of Mevlana (EMAV - Evrensel Mevlana Asiklari Vakfi)

This group performs every Sunday, usually at 17:00 (5 pm), but sometimes also at 18:15 (6:15 pm) if demand warrants. You must check the times when you buy your tickets. The entire program lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, and admission costs YTL25.

In addition, EMAV organizes evenings of spiritual discourse on Thursdays in Üsküdar, on the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, with a prayer service, sema, and question-and-answer session (with English translation). For info, contact EMAV.

Galata Mevlana Music & Sema Ensemble

Also known as the Rumi Mevlana Music & Sema Ensemble, this group performs the sema four times each Sunday in the Tarik Zafer Tunaya Culture Center, Sahkulu Bostani Caddesi No. 8, Tünel, next to the Consulate of Sweden, off Istiklal Caddesi, just a few minutes' stroll north of the Galata Mevlevihanesi.

The group is headed by Mr Atilla Baran Demirtas (tel +90 (505) 678 0618 or +90 (535) 210 4565, info@galatamevlevi.com, galatamevlevi@gmail.com, www.galatamevlevi.com. Here's the schedule (subject to change without notice, of course).

Performances on December 17, are in honor of Sebi- Arus (SHEB-ee ah-ROOSS), Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi's "wedding night with God" (the night of his earthly death).


At Sirkeci Station

Other performances take place in the evening on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday in a large room at Sirkeci Gar. You may order tickets for these by phone: +90 (212) 458-8834, or -8835. More...


Galata Mevlevihanesi

Beyoglu

Istanbul

Mevlevi Dervishes

Jelaleddin Rumi

Islam

Tom's Turkish Almanac

 
Whirling Dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey

Dervishes whirl to ecstasy in the Mevlevi sema in the Galata Mevlevihanesi.