Witness the Sema ceremony unfold at the Hodjapasha Center in Istanbul. Watch the Whirling Dervishes perform this 800-year-old spiritual ritual complete with traditional music. Embark on a spiritual journey and watch the mystical ritual of the Mevlevi Order, whose whirling dance has been declared a UNESCO Heritage of Humanity. See the Sema ceremony with its roots in 800-year-old mysticism. Watch the ceremony unfold with a live musical introduction of Mevlevi music. A Dervish is a Sufi and member of the Mevlevi Order who seeks to find divine truth and love directly with God. Observe this masterful cultural performance as the Dervishes portray the journey of man’s spiritual ascent to perfection through mind and love. The community of Sufism developed religious practices focusing on self-control that enable both mental and mystical insights as well as a loss of self, with the ultimate goal of mystical union with God.