Sufi whirling dervish (Semazen) dances, Commemoration of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Semazen conveys God’s spiritual gift to ritual. The Turkish whirling dancers or Sufi whirling dancers performing of the Mevlevi (whirling dervish) sema at the festival. Turkish dervishes man performs Mevlevi, Sama Ceremony for a show in Turkey. Mystical and fascinating ceremony of the Whirling Dervishes.

Sama (Turkish: Sema) is a Sufi ceremony performed as part of the meditation and prayer practice dhikr. Sama means “listening”, while dhikr means “remembrance”. These performances often include singing, playing instruments, dancing, recitation of poetry and prayers, wearing symbolic attire, and other rituals. Sama is a particularly popular form of worship in Sufism.

Mevlevi The Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi order are probably the best-known practitioners of Sama. Mevlevi practitioners of sema are adult initiates into the order, which historically only meant men. Participants move as a group in a circle while also turning each individually.