Whirling Dervish Blog - Articles About Sufi Culture and Mevlevi Tradition

Explore our collection of articles about the Whirling Dervish tradition, Sufi spirituality, and Turkish cultural heritage. Learn about the history of Rumi and the Mevlevi Order, the meaning behind the Sema ceremony, the symbolism of the dervish attire, and the spiritual significance of the Ney flute. Our blog also covers the historic spiritual places of Istanbul and provides comprehensive guides to experiencing the authentic ceremony.

Featured Articles

What is Sufism? A Journey into the Spiritual Heart of Anatolia. Who Was Rumi and What Is the Mevlevi Order? The Meaning and Stages of the Sema Ceremony. What Do the Dervishes Attires Symbolize? The Ney: A Sound of Peace and Spirituality. Spiritual Places of Istanbul: History and Stories. More Than a Dance: A Complete Guide to the Whirling Dervish Ceremony in Istanbul.

Guide: What Do the Dervishes' Attires Symbolize? - Whirling Dervish Istanbul

One of the most striking aspects of the Whirling Dervishes is their distinctive attire, which is rich in symbolism. Each piece of their clothing tells part of the spiritual story embodied in the Sema.

The sikke, the tall felt hat, represents the tombstone of the ego. It signifies that the dervish has overcome his ego and is spiritually reborn. **The black cloak (hırka)**: Symbolizes the grave or the death of the self. At the beginning of the ceremony, the dervishes wear the cloak but remove it before they begin to whirl, representing their departure from the material world and the ego. **The white gown (tennure)**: Resembles a shroud, symbolizing purity and the dervish's spiritual rebirth. As the dervishes whirl, they embody these symbols — leaving behind worldly attachments, purifying their souls, and striving to unite with the Divine. The attire is not merely traditional; it is a visual narrative of the Sufi path: the death of the self, the purification of the heart, and the rebirth of the spirit.

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Dervish Attire

What Do the Dervishes' Attires Symbolize?

By Mevlevi Guide

January 5, 2025

4 min read

The sikke, the tall felt hat, represents the tombstone of the ego. It signifies that the dervish has overcome his ego and is spiritually reborn.

Dervish attire symbolism - The sikke (tall hat) representing the tombstone of the ego in Whirling Dervish ceremony

The black cloak (hırka): Symbolizes the grave or the death of the self. At the beginning of the ceremony, the dervishes wear the cloak but remove it before they begin to whirl, representing their departure from the material world and the ego.

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Black cloak removal - Dervishes removing the hırka before whirling, symbolizing spiritual rebirth

The white gown (tennure): Resembles a shroud, symbolizing purity and the dervish's spiritual rebirth.

White gown (tennure) - Dervishes in white robes performing the Sema ritual, symbolizing purity and spiritual transformation

As the dervishes whirl, they embody these symbols — leaving behind worldly attachments, purifying their souls, and striving to unite with the Divine. The attire is not merely traditional; it is a visual narrative of the Sufi path: the death of the self, the purification of the heart, and the rebirth of the spirit.

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By Mevlevi Guide

Cultural Heritage Team

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