Konya, during the a-whirl of its own
We t ‘s the heart off Turkey. Konya, a neighborhood of so many souls, squatting smack in Anatolia’s crazy basic, in the middle of open, endless prairie. Turkey’s extremely culturally old-fashioned town, Konya looks initially to get a place of rigorous headscarves and foreboding beards, out-of ostentatiously observed pieties and you will taboo beers. However, uncovering Konya is easy – for here, at the heart of the dated town, within his tomb out of turquoise tiles, was Jelaluddin Rumi.
Rumi is one of the earth’s really read poets. During his life, and because their death within the 1273, pilgrims attended so you’re able to Konya. Today, Rumi’s tomb try Turkey’s 2nd very-went along to guests attraction after the Topkapi Castle for the Istanbul. Rumi is a mystic, an excellent Sufi saint which adored the religions, and whose very own faith try love. His supporters manage (nonetheless perform) eradicate by themselves from inside the trance and you will dancing, possibly spinning such as passes for hours on end.
There clearly was an enormous, epic this new municipal auditorium where it tender whirling person dancing is actually performed, and people level of lovely glossy-eyed mystics when you look at the carpet shop, cafes and gothic bazaars, every delighted to help you receive that a private zikhr
Such spinning dervishes are in fact the fresh new symbol of Turkey’s tourist procedures, and drink tea on your Istanbul resort lobby enjoying specific poor bloke inside the a high beige thought cap whirling to have your activities. Toward real thing, regardless if, been heree so you can Konya and also you started to Turkey’s heart. In the Rumi’s conditions:
“Anyone who you happen to be, started Even although you could be A keen infidel, an effective pagan, otherwise good fireworshipper, started Our brotherhood isn’t among depression If you provides broken Their vows away from repentance one hundred moments, already been.”
Just about every season just like the 1983, I’ve been upcoming into the several billion-or-therefore people whom check out Konya a-year. (more…)