Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes is not only a way to relax after an active day of various tours, but also an opportunity to get acquainted with such a mysterious Turkish tradition as the ceremony of whirling dervishes, also called sema.
The exhibition is held in the Caravanserai, built of volcanic stone by the Seljuk Empire in the 13th century. This place was a temporary refuge for travelers on the Great Silk Road. This rite originated about 700 years ago and still arouses interest in people today. The ceremony includes prayers, Qur’an reading and dance performances. Dressed in white with their arms crossed on their chests, dervishes receive a boon and begin to twirl.
During the ceremony, they enter an ecstatic state caused by music and movement. You will be impressed by this prayer dance performed by the monks, by their gentle and euphoric movements. After this unforgettable ritual, you will be treated to a traditional Ottoman drink – Sharbat. It will help you fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere of ancient oriental culture, relax and enjoy the refreshing fruity taste.
Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes show in Cappadocia will reveal the secret of one of the most mysterious customs of the Turkish people. It will introduce you to Turkey’s historical cultural heritage and give you an unforgettable sense of euphoria during the performance!
Cappadocia Whirling Dervishes Ceremony Tour price is 30 Euro for Per Person
Please note that we have ‘no hidden costs’
Tour days: Daily
Tour duration: Summer Time: From 20:30 to 22:00 // Winter Time: From 17:30 to 19:00
Cappadocia Hotels Transfer: Pick up from your hotel
A comfortable bus will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the caravanserai. You will arrive at the site half an hour before the Dervish ceremony to explore the Caravanserai – the ancient refuge for the travelers of the Great Silk Road. You will see the ceremony of the whirling dervishes, learn about this rite, learn about its history and importance in Turkish culture. After the ceremony, you will be treated to a traditional Ottoman drink – Sharbat. At the end of the tour you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Dervishes: Dervishes are hermits who have dedicated their lives to God. Dervishes are followers of Sufism, one of the branches of Islam. A distinctive feature of dervishes is the complete absence of any property. They didn’t even have their own clothes and shoes. They rejected worldly possessions and were committed to the service of God. Some of the dervishes lived in monasteries – khanaki, others migrated from one place to another. Although dervishes, unlike them, are called monks, they could have families. You will get acquainted with this interesting “character” with a long history.
History of the Ceremony: Whirling Dervishes is an order founded by the Persian poet and mystic Muhammad Mustafa Jalal ad-Din (1207-1273) – a follower of Sufism. He is better known in history as Rumi or Mevlana, and his apprenticeship is called Mevlevi. Therefore, the dervishes were also called followers of the Mevlevi brotherhood. Rumi founded a monastery in Konya where he lived and preached Sufism.
Lessons at Mevlevi place special emphasis on music, singing and dancing. During the services, Rumi began to use music. This is how the main ritual of the Mevlevi order appeared, the source of inspiration was Sema. The Sema Rite is a whirling rite. Doing sema means “hearing the voice of the universe”, while the movements in sema symbolize the origin of the universe, the birth of man, love for the Creator, the desire to serve him, the desire to be a perfect man . Music has the rhythm of a human heartbeat. During the Ataturk reign in 1925, the Sufi orders were abolished and Rumi Monastery became a museum. But after a few decades, sacred knowledge and faith found their place in life.
Whirling Dervishes Ceremony: The whirling dervishes or sema ceremony involves music, dancing and prayer. Participants in the ritual are dervishes and sheikhs. They wear symbolic garments, including a white dress with a wide skirt, a black, waist-length jacket, and a tall conical felt hat. You will learn the history of the great Ottoman culture by attending this ancient ceremony. First, the dervishes sit in a circle for prayer. Then they get up and follow the sheikh in a circle.
Dervish takes off his jacket and, arms crossed, approaches the Sheikh again, this time to receive a blessing. After receiving the blessing, the dervish begins to spin. At the beginning of his whirl, the dervish keeps his hands crossed. Then, while he twirls, Sheik picks her up. His right hand is pointed towards heaven, ready to receive the mercy of God, while his left hand is turned towards the earth to give what he has received from God. Whirling from right to left, the dervish imparts the spiritual gift of God to people and shares love with all mankind. This performance will cause incredible emotions in you. Mesmerizing, mysterious atmosphere, full of energy of dance moves, bright costumes,
Sharbat: Try a traditional Ottoman drink made from fruits and berries with added sugar – Sharbat. It comes from the word “Shariba” which means “to drink”. Since ancient times, it has helped quench thirst even in hot weather. Sharbat was served in both wealthy and common families. It was always an integral part of the guests.
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I had no prior knowledge of dervishes but now I’m in awe of their tradition and culture and I was not disappointed. It was truly a unique and enlightening experience and I highly recommend it to others.
it was a spectacular experience. I have to thank NADIA from this company for recommending it to us. The customer service was excellent and the transfers were a huge plus for us as tourists. The venue was beautiful and the atmosphere was mystical. The music and dancers complemented each other perfectly. I highly recommend this show to anyone visiting Cappadocia.
