the Mevlev dervish order

A Turkish dervish order based on Persian culture, which was founded by Jelaleddin Rumi - Mevlana - in the 13th century in the town of Konja in Asia. Their most important ceremony is the dervish dance (sema), the spin of which symbolises the uncertainty of fate and the operation of the universe. Because of this exercise the mevlik is also called spinning dervish. This order is one of the most intelligent Turkish dervish communities, their music had a great influence on Osman classical music for a long time.

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