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Sama (Sufi Whirling Ceremony)
The spiritual concert of the Mevlevi Order — music and whirling as a form of prayer.
📅 December 1
✦ Why It Matters
Sama is the spiritual practice of the Mevlevi Sufi order. The whirling dervishes turn counterclockwise, one hand raised to receive divine grace and one lowered to transmit it to earth. UNESCO recognized it as an intangible cultural heritage.
✦ How It Is Observed
Na'at (praise of the Prophet), then dervishes process and begin turning in white robes (symbolizing burial shrouds). They turn while ney flute and rebab play. A minimum of seven sema are performed.
✦ Sacred Text
“I have lived on the lip of insanity, wanting to know reasons, knocking on a door. It opens. I have been knocking from the inside!”
— Masnavi Book II, Rumi ↗