Traditions & everyday life
Mevlevî semâsı
The whirling ceremony of the followers of Rumi, turning in white robes.
The Turkish name
Mevlevî semâsı
Recording on its way.
The story
In the semâ, dervishes of the Mevlevi order turn slowly on one foot, right hand open to the sky and left to the earth, their white skirts flaring, to the sound of the reed flute. The ceremony is a form of prayer and remembrance.
The order grew from the followers of the poet Mevlânâ Celâleddîn-i Rûmî, who died in Konya in 1273. UNESCO listed the ceremony as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2008, and thousands gather in Konya each December for Şeb-i Arus, the anniversary of his death.
At a glance
- Home
- Konya
- UNESCO
- Intangible Cultural Heritage, 2008
- Şeb-i Arus
- 17 December, Konya
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This page was written from these sources.
- Mevlevi Sema ceremony ↗UNESCO · Checked 2026-09-23