Sebi Arbus in Turkey

To the South of Ankara there is ancient city Konya where the oldest religious traditions came down to us. There in XIII century Jalaluddin Rumi was buried who was a famous dervish – Sufi, visionary and poet who was first to offer the whirl as the form of meditation. He was born in Afghanistan but moved to Konya to teach young monks how to have devoted faith.

Inside the ancient monastery, he wrote a collection of his well-known poems praising love for Allah, and stayed in touch with another great mystic of that time, Shams-i-Tabrīzī. When Tabrīzī was killed by the heretic, Rumi being out of grief became a hermit, and only in several years he was intended to gain feeling of Divine harmony. After the death of Rumi his son, Sultan Veled established the first Sufi sect Mevlevi taking whirl as official practice.

After collapse of the Ottoman Empire new authority of Turkey pronounced it as secular state and closed all monasteries including Mevlevi. Only in 1950-s years government confessed that Sufi option of Islam does not constitute political menace.

In cultural centre Mewlana, the main monastery of Mevlevi, every year the day of Rumi’s death – Sevi Arbus (day of betrothing with God) – sema is celebrated which is special religious ceremony. It is original combination of dances, music, and worships, in which male-voice choir narrates about the greatness of Divine love.

Mystery of the ancient dance where music, movement, and conjuration grow together has been lasting for three hours. Before each of its extract monks approach to their tutor (sheik) to receive his blessing. Then, to the strains of drums and seraphine, they indulge in dancing meditation, gradually falling into an ecstasy. The statures of dervishes whirling in their flaunting white clothing attract spectators. Evidently, it is one of the most unique religious customs in the world.