Dervish

A Dervish is a Muslim religious man who is undergoing an apprenticeship of learning the profession that will bestow him with eternal livelihood. Whirling is one of the various methods, which is used by the Sufis (Islamic ascetics) to get closer to their revered Allah (God). Whirling Dervishes perform near the Mevlevi Museum in Konya in the annual Mevlana festival - the largest festival in Turkey. The Mevlevi or Mevleviye is the most renowned Sufi order, which was founded by Celaleddin Mevlana Rumi in 1273 and most of the whirling Dervishes in Turkey come from this faith. So if you are visiting Turkey, do not forget to visit the Mevlevi museum/shrine in Konya. It not only houses the tombs of prominent Dervishes but you can also see the live act of the whirling Dervishes who perform near it. Do not miss it because it is going to be the experience of a lifetime.