Whirling dervishes

This was on my bucket list for years. I have always been a great fan of Rumi. It was mesmerizing to watch them.
The ceremony was at the Saruhan Caravansarai just outside of Avanos. It was interesting that Avanos was initially known as Venessa (not Vanessa).

Mevlana Celaleddin (or Rumi as he’s known in the West) was the 13th century religious leader behind the Whirling Dervishes. His philosophy of “come as you are” was attractive to many people searching for true meaning in life. As people began to follow Mevlana they came to love the creator and his creation. This love is expressed in the dance of the Dervish. With one hand raised to the Creator, the dancer receives, and with the other hand turned down toward the earth, they pass on the blessing to the Creation. The story goes that one day Rumi was walking along the market when he heard the beat of a worker working on the road. He internalized the beat and started whirling. Thus began the ritual of the whirling dervishes.Read more