Turkey marks 747th anniversary of Sufi mystic Rumi's death amid pandemic

KONYA, TURKEY - DECEMBER 07: Turkey commemorated the death of Sufi poet Mevlana Jalaluddin al-Rumi, a 13th century Sufi mystic, poet and Islamic scholar. Konya city where Rumi was buried held commemorative event on Monday evening (Dec. 7) to mark Rumi’s union with God, which is called Sheb-i Arus, or the wedding night on the 747th death anniversary of Mevlana. The commemoration ended with the Sema ceremony, also known as Mevlevi Ayin-i Sherif. "Time of Benevolence" is the theme of this year, which points out that "When a person turns to seek good, no evil remains with him." An indispensable part of Mevlevi Order, Sema is a whirling act accompanied by music and characterized by certain rules. The ritual begins with Nat-i Sherif, a music in praise of Prophet Mohammad. It is followed by the entrance of the semazens, whirling dervishes performing the dance, with their arms across their chests to the accompaniment of music, usually the reed. As the semazens begin the whirling ritual, they take off the waistcoat as an indication for stepping into purification, deserting the ego aside. As a ritual full of symbols, everything from acts to clothes bears a meaning in Sema. The Semahane (Ritual Quarters) has a round floor to represent the universe, and the post on which the Sheikh -- the leader of the ritual -- is red as a symbol for the sunset representing the time of the day Rumi united with God. The post, a beginner of Mevlevi Order sits on, is black. In the beginner's journey of enlightenment, the new initiate comes to earn a white post. Dressed in a symbolic costume of white robes and a conical hat called a "sikke", the semazens open both arms to the sides and they whirl in a counter-clockwise direction as if embracing the entire universe. (Footage by Anil Kuru/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)