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1 Hour Whirling Dervish Ceremony in Istanbul
4.6
45 Ratings
Istanbul
Experience the mesmerizing Whirling Dervish ceremony in Istanbul, a captivating spiritual practice that has been going on for centuries. Immerse yourself in the ancient Sufi ritual and witness the profound mystical experience that unfolds in a beautiful tekke hall.
Duration:
1 hour
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Hodjapasha Cultural Center - Uncover the sacred practice of the mystical Sufis at an authentic Mevlevi Sema Ceremony held at Istanbul’s Hodjapasha and witness the 800-year-old tradition that has been preserved on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Heritage of Humanity. Be mesmerized by the bizarre yet beautiful sight of the Whirling Dervishes as they perform their unique spiritual rituals during an hour-long show, including a live orchestra and 360-video projections.
What's Included
- Entry/Admission to Hodjapasha Cultural Center
- Complimentary bottled water
- Multi-language tour booklet
What's Not Included
- Food
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information
The Whirling Dervish ceremony in Istanbul is a mesmerizing and captivating spiritual practice that has been going on for centuries. It is an ancient Sufi ritual that originated in the 13th century with the founding of the Mevlevi Order by the Persian poet Rumi.
The ceremony takes place in a mystical setting, usually in a beautiful and ornate hall known as a tekke. The tekke is adorned with carpets, candles, and other symbolic objects that set the ambiance for the event. The audience gathers in anticipation, eager to witness the profound and mystical experience that is about to unfold.
The Whirling Dervishes, also known as semazen, are dressed in traditional white robes, symbolizing purity and detachment from material belongings. They wear tall felt hats called sikkes, representing the tombstones of the ego, which they remove before performing the dance. The dervishes enter the hall in a procession, creating an ethereal atmosphere as they slowly take their places.
- Children under 7 years of age are not allowed
Location
Hodjapasha Cultural Center
Hoca Pasa Mh. Hocapasa Hamami Sokak No: 3/B, Sirkeci
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.6
(45 Ratings)
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Alena
May 26, 2024
Beautiful experience - Really interesting and unique cultural experience. The museum before the show explained the culture and spiritual experience of the performance.
Beautiful music great to do at least once.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Npk92
May 23, 2024
It was great to watch this ceremony. Never seen it before. - The Hodjapasha Cultural Center in Istanbul was a wonderful performing arts center. The lobby area was like a mini museum filled with statues and boards with information sharing the history of performing arts in Turkey. The show we saw itself was a great watch. We never seen a Dervish Whirling Ceremony before so this was great to see. No photos or videos allowed inside though. - Nolan
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J7045uadanielaa
Apr 1, 2024
Big show - We really liked the show! We had incredible seats where you could see both the musicians and the dancing! If you come to Istanbul and have a free afternoon I recommend it
Review provided by Tripadvisor
W4877qkesthert
Jun 12, 2024
Enchanting - The experience was calming and enchanting. There is a mini exhibit before you enter for the performance. I recommend arriving early to view the exhibit as it's very informative. The ceremony is a form of prayer, so do not attend wishing to be entertained. It is captivating and enlightening.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grazielatito
May 30, 2024
Originality - And very original and typical. But it's not an eating, drinking and taking photos program. You can't take a photo. It is a religious and cultural “cult”. I liked it but some may not like it, as was the case with my children.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
L1645ynralfw
May 24, 2024
Live music makes the dervish spin - Very long-winded but OK. Photography was forbidden. You can look at it, the problem was finding the place. The entry system is also chaotic.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carol
May 13, 2024
Good performance. - Have seen whirling dervishes on tv a few times over the years so knew what to expect. Their concentration, balance and stamina are amazing, very trance-like. Interesting voices and instruments. Five men doing the exact same thing together for the whole time, no variation. Good performance.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Charoline_s
May 15, 2024
Watching one hour of twirling - The only thing interesting was learning the philosophy of Rumi, on which the twirling dance is based.
Review provided by Viator
Arnold
Apr 20, 2024
A religious ceremony for certain not very entertaining - This is definitely a religious exhibition and needs to be respected as such however, everybody in our tour left feeling quite empty. The beginning of the session is 10 to 15 minutes of very unenjoyable music.. the actual spinning dervishes did the same routine for the balance of the show. About 15 of us in our tour, attended the show. as far as entertainment goes, this is a very subdued, less than enjoyable experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stay27815782831
Mar 29, 2024
Not my kinda thing - Unless you have a very high boredom threshold I’d avoid this at all costs. It’s a full on religious ceremony so be prepared for this.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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