Hodjapasha: Whirling Dervish Ceremony in Istanbul

For a blend of history and modernity, the Hodjapasha Cultural Center is a fantastic choice. Situated in a 550-year-old former Ottoman bathhouse in the Sirkeci area, this venue offers a captivating atmosphere for the Whirling Dervish performances. The center hosts daily shows, providing ample opportunity for visitors to fit this into their itineraries. The performances are accompanied by traditional music and informative displays about the Mevlevi Order, offering a comprehensive cultural experience.

The ‘dance’ of the Whirling Dervishes is called Sema and is a part of the inspiration of Mevlana and has become part of Turkish custom, history, beliefs and culture.

Whirling Derwish
Sema represents a mystical journey of man’s spiritual ascent through mind and love to “Perfect”. Whirling towards the truth, his growth, through love, deserts his ego, finds the truth and arrive to the “Perfect”. He returns from this spiritual journey as a man who reached maturity and greater perfection, so as to love and to be of service to the whole of creation, to all creatures without discrimination of believes, races, classes and nations.