Whirling Dervishes Istanbul

Whirling Dervishes in Istanbul. The whirling dance or Sufi whirling is performed by members of the Mevlevi order in Turkey as part of a formal ceremony known as the Sema. The Sema is performed to try to reach religious ecstasy. It is a powerful ceremony to witness. You can visit the Mevlevi Monastery, with a museum about the Mevlevi order and also witness this ceremony during your stay in Istanbul.