Becoming ever more popular for family holidays, Turkey has some fascinating sights and experiences to offer its visitors, not least of which are its famous Whirling Dervishes.

Who are the Whirling Dervishes?

Although in modern day terminology we might use the term Whirling Dervish of someone who is seen to be dashing about hurriedly to get things done; the real Whirling Dervishes are members of the Mevlevi Order which was founded in the city of Konya in present day Turkey by the followers of 13th century poet, theologian and mystic Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi (also known as Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi). In what is essentially an act of worship, the Mevlevi Dervishes in their long white costumes, perform their whirling dance as part of the ceremony which is known as Sema and also includes singing, dancing, playing musical instruments and poetry recitals. For those taking family holidays in Turkey, it is an experience not to be missed.

Why do the Mevlevi Dervishes whirl?

It is said that the practice of whirling originated from Balkhi-Rumi’s occasional habit of spinning around in sheer joy and ecstasy in the streets of Konya, and that the aim of turning first slowly and then with ever-increasing speed is to put the dancers into a trance-like or meditative state which takes them closer to God. As they perform this mesmerising ritual, they are accompanied by chanting and music, and those attending one of their performances during their family holidays in Turkey are certain to be awestruck and captivated by the sheer speed at which they move.

Are the Mevlevi the Only Order of Dervishes?

As visitors on family holidays to Turkey will no doubt learn, the Mevlevi ,or Whirling Dervishes, were only one of many orders of Dervishes (brotherhoods or religious sects known for their extreme poverty and austerity) to exist in latter day Persia; the Bektashi order being another of the very famous ones. Throughout the centuries, however, successive rulers put an end to all but the Mevlevi order. It belongs to the orthodox mainstream of Islam, allowing it to survive, albeit mainly because the organisation was a non-political one and the Sema ceremony is such a tourist attraction. Different orders practised their own separate and distinct rituals which also included dancing, but the Mevlevi order was unique in its whirling dances.

Where to Go to See the Whirling Dervishes

As the home of the Whirling Dervishes, the city of Konya is one of the places where visitors on family holidays in Turkey can take in the sight of this famous Sema dance and December 17th, the anniversary of the death of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, is one of the best times to visit. The annual Mevlana Commemoration Festival takes place at the Mevlana Cultural Centre in the city and ceremonies take place during the course of the week from the 10th to 17th of the month. Visitors to Istanbul can also see displays of the Whirling Dervishes at the Galata Mevlevihanesi (closed for restoration until December 2010), and various other venues throughout the city.

Author Bio: Davide Smith is the Destination Expert for Bargain Holidays Online, a unique holiday website which specialises in cheap, last-minute deals for family holidays Turkey as well as giving you access to over 20 million other bargain holiday deals. Book your bargain holidays with BargainHolidaysOnline.com today and save.

Category: Travel
Keywords: family holidays Turkey