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EveryParampara

Traditions of Konya

The home of Rumi and the Mevlevi dervishes, where the annual Seb-i Arus draws visitors from across the world.

Konya is a city on the Anatolian plateau, the capital of the Seljuk Turks and the last home of the poet and mystic Jalal ad-Din Rumi, who died here in 1273. The Mevlana Museum, with its green-tiled dome, holds his tomb. The Mevlevi order he inspired became known as the whirling dervishes.

Konya: Konyaaltinçarşi
Photo: Konya Karatay Belediyesi, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Seb-i Arus

Each December, Seb-i Arus, the wedding night, marks the anniversary of Rumi's death, understood as a union with the divine. Ceremonies of the sema are performed in a hall, with dancers in white skirts spinning with one hand raised to receive and the other lowered to give. The performance is on UNESCO's list.

At the table

Konya is famed for etli ekmek, a thin flatbread topped with minced lamb, and for fırın kebabı, slow-baked lamb. Sweet tahini pastries and bulgur dishes feature, and locals drink ayran, a salted yoghurt drink. Pilgrims often eat a meal in the lodge kitchens.

Signature traditions of Konya

Also part of it, and being written: Mevlevi Sema Ceremony (The whirling ceremony.), Rumi (The poet of Konya.), Etli ekmek (The Konya flatbread with meat.).

A trail idea for Konya

  1. Mevlana Museum Visit the tomb and the old dervish cells.
  2. Alaaddin Hill See the Seljuk mosque.
  3. Bedesten market Browse for copper and sweets.
About this page

Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.

KindSpiritualFestivalRite of passageTable customSeasonalDressPerformanceEtiquetteCraftGameFolkloreHomeCeremony
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperTea-time and snacking customsTea, coffee and drinking ceremoniesSweets given and sharedFeasts and festival mealsFasting and breaking the fast
🇹🇷 Konya, Turkey and 4 moreMevlevi OrderMevlevilik A Sufi tradition from Konya known for its whirling ceremony and devotion to Rumi's teachings.Spiritual 🇹🇷 Erzurum, TurkeyJereedCirit Riders on horseback throw blunt wooden javelins at rivals in this Turkish team sportGame 🇹🇷 Istanbul, TurkeyTurkish folk dance Regional line and circle dances of Turkey, each with its own step and rhythmPerformance

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

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