The Whirling Dervishes, also known as ‘Sufi Whirling’ or ‘Semazen’, perform the most mystical dance in the world. The dance; in other words, a meditation or cultural show was created and developed with the inspiration of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi (1207 - 1273).

In fact, the show that we most commonly know as the Whirling Dervishes is the dhikr ritual of the Whirling Dervishes. The ceremony is accompanied by mostly ‘ney’, a traditional Turkish instrument. The ritual they perform is spreading their arms to both sides, turning their right palm to the sky and their left palm to the soil, taking from God and giving to people. 

Music is an instrument that helps meditation, and the sky has visible and invisible aspects. When you go to see this cultural show, first, the Mesnevi poem is read, then they pray, and dhikr is performed along with instrumental music. The ritual takes place in Hodjapasha Dance Theater, one of the must-see tourist attractions in Turkey. It is also discounted to enter for Istanbul Tourist Pass holders.

Who is Mevlana?

Before watching the cultural show Whirling Dervishes, everyone should have some general knowledge about this great philosopher, and the origins of Sufism: Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi. During his lifetime, Mevlana exhibited a Sufi understanding based on divine love, blended with music, sema, and poetry. He never aimed at establishing a sect, his mystical understanding and life, which he put forward in his lifetime. But the Mevlevi order, which would be established by those who came after him, was structured within the framework of the principles revealed by Mevlana and became a sect. Mevlana’s famous 7 advice are as follows:

Be like a stream of generosity and help.
Be like the sun in tenderness and mercy.
Be like the night in covering others' flaws.
Be like the dead in anger and irritability.
Be like the earth in humility and humility.
Be like the sea in tolerance.
Either appear as you are or be as you look.

Why Are They Whirling?

Whirling Dervishes’ basic condition of existence is to whirl and reach higher spiritual levels. Since everything in this cultural show has a different meaning and beauty, Hodjapasha Dance Theater is one of the best places to visit in İstanbul. In this special show, from the shape of the area called Semahane, to the colors of the garments, the Whirling Dervishes possess; all of them represent a symbol.

For example, Semahane is a circular area and it symbolizes the universe. Red is the color of 'vuslat', the color of meeting Allah. Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi met Allah as the sun was setting. As it is known, the sky turns red both at sunset and at sunrise. As for the dress of the Whirling Dervish;

The coin (sikke) represents the gravestone of man's bad habits.
His white dress represents his shroud.
The cardigan he wears represents his will.

When the Whirling Dervish starts the sema, he takes off his cardigan and takes a step towards a spiritual cleansing. The standing of the Whirling Dervishes with crossed arms expresses the oneness of Allah. It is as if he embraces the universe with all his heart as he turns from right to left by spreading his arms to both sides. With his right hand facing the sky, he distributes what he receives from God to the people with his left hand facing the earth. In this cultural show, the disappearance of Whirling Dervishes in the belief of Allah is also emphasized.

A Closer Look At The Whirling Dervishes

They are whirling, but they do not get dizzy, how come? Here is the scientific explanation: There are three semicircular canals in the inner ear, and the three channels are equidistant from each other. Whirling Dervishes tilt their heads 20-25 degrees to the right while performing whirling. Thanks to this tilting the three channels are stimulated equally and dizziness is not experienced.

Whirling Dervishes whirl on their left foot after tilting their heads to the right. During the whirling, their eyes are half-open, and they look at the thumb of their left hand, which replaces the horizon line. The axis of rotation of the whirling dervish passes through the head, heart, and left leg.

If the left foot is rotated on a single axis around the heart and head axis, dizziness will be minimized. In addition, semazens prevent the drowsiness that occurs in their heads by making dhikr during the sema. Whirling Dervishes never close their eyes, they keep them slightly open to see their surroundings.

The Importance of Hodjapasha Dance Theater

Hodjapasha Dance Theater is actually a double hammam, a Turkish bath, built in 1470 by Hodja Sinan Pasha, the teacher and vizier of Fatih Sultan Mehmet. It was used as a bath until 1988. Hodjapasha Bath, which is a large structure with high domes, was built of cut stone with brick beams. It has neat lines and corner squinches in the shape of a peacock tail. Today, the place is called the Hodjapasha Cultural Center, which is located inside the historical Hodjapasha Bath in Sirkeci, which is used as a bazaar today. If you wonder about other tourist attractions around Hodjapasha Dance Theater, one of them is The Grand Bazaar.

The Whirling Dervishes Show is a must-see cultural experience for anyone visiting Istanbul. This entrancing performance showcases the mesmerizing dance of a whirling dervish, a spiritual practice that dates back centuries in Turkey. The Whirling Dervishes Show in Istanbul is renowned for its beauty and grace, and visitors can witness this stunning display of devotion and discipline at the Hodjapasha Culture Center. The Hodjapasha Dance Theatre Istanbul is a beautiful and atmospheric venue that provides the perfect setting for this traditional performance. The best whirling dervish show in Istanbul can be found at the Hodjapasha Culture Center, where visitors can enjoy the show at a reasonable price. With the İstanbul Tourist Pass®, visitors can enjoy discounted entrance to the Whirling Dervishes Show at the Hodjapasha Culture Center, providing them with an unforgettable cultural experience during their trip to Istanbul.