The Whirling Dervishes, or to use their proper name, the order of Mevlevi, were founded in the 13th century by the Sufimystic, Celaleddin Rumi (also called Mevlana). Mevlana was a poet who believed that a religious state of ecstasy could be produced by music and dance allowing the discovery of divine love. His philosophy, or religion, was formed based on tolerance. His widely know poem voices the core beliefs of Sufism:
Come, come, whoever you are, come!
Heathen, fire-worshipper or idolator, come!
Come even if you have broken your penitence a hundred times,
Ours is the door of hope, come as you are.
Thousands of people travel to Konya every year to watch the hypnotic Whirling Dervishes in their annual December event commemorating the Mevlana at their spiritual home. The sema ceremony is essential to the philosophy and climaxes with the whirling dance. The ceremony is performed in traditional dress of white robes, which represents a shroud, and conical hat (sikke) whic symbolises the tombstone of their ego. With his left hand pointed downward toward earth and his right hand pointed upward toward God, the dervish whirls to the accompaniment of the reed pipe. A true sight to behold.
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