Turkey’s whirling dervishes perform ceremonies, in photos

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at Kasimpasa Mevlevihane in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2024, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at Kasimpasa Mevlevihane in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2024, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

A whirling dervish of the Mevlevi order performs during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at Kasimpasa Mevlevihane in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at a municipality cultural center in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at Kasimpasa Mevlevihane in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at a municipality cultural center in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Mim Kemal Bulent Oke, head of dervish order dresses up before a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at a municipality cultural center in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at Kasimpasa Mevlevihane in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at a municipality cultural center in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)

A whirling dervish of the Mevlevi order plays with his daughter before before a Sheb-i Arus ceremony at a municipality cultural center in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, to commemorate the death of 13th century Islamic scholar, poet and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi.(AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)