Rumi, known as Mevlana in Turkey, was a 13th-century Persian Sufi mystic who lived between 1207 and 1278. He lived most of his life in Konya under Seljuqs and established the Mevlevi Order. According to his ideas, someone who deserts his ego finds the truth and arrives at the “Perfect” who is able to love the whole of creation. The dance of Whirling Dervishes, namely sama, symbolizes this spiritual journey. Rumi has many poems translated into many of the world’s languages and now is seen as the symbol of tolerance by this famous quote “Come, come, whoever you are”.
Galata Mevlevihanesi in Beyoğlu is a Mevlevi Whirling Dervish hall and museum where you can see some belongings of the Sufis for 3 TL and watch their dance on Sunday evenings for 40 TL. For other places for sama dance click here.
