Whirling Dervishes Celebrate Rumi Anniversary

Whirling dervishes in Turkey performed an annual dance to mark the death of Muslim mystic and poet, Mevlana Jelaleddin Rumi. The beloved Sufi writer of devotional poetry died in 1273. His son founded the dervish order soon after.

"The light emerging from the work of Rumi is rising day by day," Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at the event. "Each day it enlightens our world more."

This year marked the 737th anniversary of Rumi's passing, which is known as Seb-i Arus, or Wedding Night, in Turkey.

Whirling dervishes perform their dizzying feat in recognition of the oneness of all creation and humanity's closeness to the divine.

WATCH the Reuters report:

Comments

[laurelei23]

10:44 AM on 12/30/2010

Sufis are all up to something -- but in a very good way.

[GlassMask]

02:57 PM on 12/29/2010

I'm not a big fan of poetry, but I really like Rumi's poems. And I'm an atheist, but I really like the Dervishes' prayers.

[bastalready]

08:27 PM on 12/26/2010

What a beautiful prayer.

[Ventoi]

10:05 AM on 12/25/2010

Spinning in RECOGNITION that all humanity may be ONE...
is a knowledgeable attempt to change the connotation of the word ONE
WHERE YOU ARE.

[LintLass]

12:49 PM on 12/22/2010

This is one of those parts of Abrahamic monotheism I can look at and say, 'OK, *that* bit, I *get.*' :)

[roninroshi]

12:37 PM on 12/22/2010

"What was said to the Rose" a poem by Rumi...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa07vKCwWPA&feature=related

[wm1066]

12:36 PM on 12/22/2010

I would love to do this sometime, I assume the dress has something to do with your ability to keep your balance. I often meditate when I'm exercising on the rowing machine, or doing a meditatve walk, so I can see the value of meditating on God while you twirl.

[phoenix phoenix]

04:59 PM on 12/22/2010

Yes the cloth makes it easy to whirl. In the edges of the skirt there are little weights which increase the momentum.

[Kynn]

12:37 AM on 01/02/2011

They also train from the time they're little kids.

It's way harder than it looks to do for a long time.

[researcher]

08:21 PM on 12/21/2010

“ I died as a mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose to animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
Yet once more I shall die as Man, to soar
With angels bless'd; but even from angelhood
I must pass on: all except God doth perish.
When I have sacrificed my angel-soul,
I shall become what no mind e'er conceived.
Oh, let me not exist! for Non-existence
Proclaims in organ tones,
To Him we shall return." rumi

yea shall be as gods knowing good from evil. christian bible.

we are expressions of the Infinite; the idea that we have the freedom not to be expressions is based on egotistical ignorance. ie free will is a illusion of the ego but a very good one.

dont confuse non existence with nothingness. that non existence is the false self we call the ego.

[LintLass]

12:50 PM on 12/22/2010

People confuse 'separateness' for 'existence' all the time. One way or another. :)

[rigmoten]

03:33 PM on 12/21/2010

Ah, fond memories of my fantasy football team Whirling Dervish Fists N Elbows, kick rocks Reggie Wayne.

[MohammedAbbasi]

02:34 PM on 12/21/2010

In truth everything and everyone
Is a shadow of the Beloved,
And our seeking is His seeking
And our words are His words...
We search for Him here and there,
while looking right at Him.
Sitting by His side, we ask:
'O Beloved, where is the Beloved?'
Rumi

Thanks HP
www.aobm.org

[MilesToGo]

01:54 PM on 12/21/2010

Rumi's poetry is beautiful and deeply profound...timeless. There are many reasons why Rumi is the most widely-read poet, appreciated across all regions of our world. It's been said, too, that the dance tradition begun by his Mevlevi Order has not only ancient roots, but mirrors the Cosmos and the movements of planets.

[TheFriendlyAtheist]

09:35 AM on 12/21/2010

Any sect that honors a poet is OK by me. Whirl on dervishes.

[Schweik]

01:13 AM on 12/22/2010

Seconded.

[Gurg]

09:12 AM on 12/21/2010

Rumi was actually born in Balkh, modern day Afghanistan, and he was not a Shia Muslim.

[Vahuman]

12:58 AM on 12/22/2010

Who said he was, and what's exactly your point?

And fyi, Afghanistan didn't even exist as a country in his time. Afghanistan is less than 300 years old, he lived over 700 years ago.

[Gurg]

10:04 AM on 12/28/2010

"modern day Afghanistan" did you miss that point?
Just trying to throw some facts out there for you to chew on buddy.

[Pandoras Folly]

08:15 AM on 12/21/2010

So as the seeker seeks the truth, the truth seeks the seeker.

[StevenevetS]

01:14 PM on 12/21/2010

If this is gay, color me gay.

[harmlesstree]

08:11 PM on 12/21/2010

M0ron!