Istanbul Hodjapasha Whirling Dervishes Show & Exhibition
Description
Discover the history and culture of the famous Whirling Dervishes during this 1-hour at Istanbul’s Hodjapasha. Wander the Whirling Dervishes’ museum and learn about their traditional ceremonies, clothing, musical instruments and tools. Read about the famous mystic Rumi and enjoy some of his best poems before experiencing a traditional Whirling Dervish ceremony, one of the most important rituals in Turkish culture.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We present a cultural and mystical ceremony
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 7 years
Reviews(527)
Great experience! Definitely tourist friendly. Translation was helpful. Music and performance were lovely.
It was an experience that borders on the mystical. We arrived at the cultural center, they offered us a very welcome glass of water, and we were able to visit the small exhibition before the ceremony. In the exhibition, the meaning of the clothes, the philosophy, and the ritual is explained with panels, wax figures, original clothes, and musical instruments. The ceremony takes place in an intimate space; there are about 200 seats, but in a circle around the round stage. One should not expect a show, but a true prayer with the mind and body, a suffering shared and accompanied by live music and singing. The whole thing is extremely touching
Brilliant experience in a perfect setting
I was really looking forward to this experience, but it was underwhelming. The atmosphere didn’t feel special or spiritual, rather cold!
Five men engaging in a twirling demonstration for one hour. Mystical? Yes. But only because we hadn’t a clue about the significance of what we were watching, other than that somehow the twirling was getting the twirling men closer to perfection.
More of a spiritual experience than what you would think of as traditionally “entertaining”. Fascinating to see but not for kids as much since it was watching the dancers do the same dance the entire time. Not a bad thing just know it’s a show that will make you feel spiritual vs flashy Broadway type of show. Would recommend.
Definitely need to get to the venue early and read up on the ceremony before it starts. There is very little information given prior to the ceremony or during the ceremony. This not a specular ceremony since its mostly about praying and trying to connect with Allah
Quiet, meaningful ceremony. Don’t expect dancing, fire shies, or the like- it is a spiritual ritual, accompanied by Luce music and chanting.
This is a religious ceremony that is hundreds of years old so don't expect light entertainment. The Musicians and Dervishes performing the ceremony are high skilled in performing this ritual which took an hour to complete. Reading the information at the cultural centre was worth doing as it explained the background of the Dervishes and the meaning of the ritual. No photos or videos were allowed during the performance.
A mystical spiritual experience. Intriguing. Beautiful meditative music. A series of panels provides introduction to Rumi and Sufism. Would go again if I had the chance.
