"On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Rumi’s birth, Mevlana Peace Competition will be held in 2007."
from the Cultural Heritage News Agency, Tehran, 19 December 2005 (CHN) --
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Mevlana’s birthday, the great Peace Competition of Mevlana, otherwise known as Rumi, the great Iranian poet of the 13th century AD, will be held in Konya, Turkey in 2007.
“Following the suggestion of Turkish government, the year 2007 will be named after Rumi,” Said Abdol-sattar Yazar, head of Konya Cultural and Tourism Office.
In an interview with CHN in Rumi’s death anniversary, Yazar added that the 732nd anniversary of Rumi’s death will also be held in Konya on June/July of next year.
“Rumi’s death anniversary is known as ‘bride’s night’ in Turkey, and was used to be held every year from 10 to 17 of December. However, this year this ritual will be held for a longer period of time, that is from 7 to 17 of December,” Yazar added.
Since Sufi Gnostics regard death as a means of reunion with the beloved (the Lord Almighty), Mevlana’s death anniversary is considered a happy occasion. That’s why it is called the “bride’s night”.
The most interesting part of this ceremony is the famous dance of the “Whirling Dervishes”. This type of dance is known as “Sama”, and is a mystical round dance related to Sufism. Sama, from the Arabic root meaning “to listen”, refers to the spiritual practice of listening to music and achieving unity with the Divine.
Those who are responsible for holding this ceremony have started their job from mid-January by preparing catalogues in 8 languages which have been sent to 35 countries already. A catalogue in Persian language was sent to the Iran’s Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance.
The number of tourists who travel to Turkey to participate in this ceremony is increasing each year which is a proof of the Turkish officials’ success in introducing this special ritual to the world.
In each performance, approximately 12 thousand people are present, watching the ceremony. “45 thousand people are expected to be present at this ceremony. Performing days of this ceremony have been extended to 15 nights due to the increasing number of visitors,” said Yazar.
Last year more than 1,350,000 tourists traveled to Konya. This number is predicted to be increased to two million this year. Due to the increasing number of tourists, the accommodation facilities are being developed to facilitate transportation of the tourists.
Each year and around this time, a large number of groups from India, Pakistan and Iran travel to Konya to take part and perform in this ceremony.
In an interview with the Iranian media, director of Konya Journalists Society announced that ministers of tourism and culture from seven Islamic countries will travel to Konya. He also added that next year, Prince Charles of England and the Spanish Prime Minister will be among the visitors.
CNN, BBC, and Reuters have covered the news of this ceremony in the past. 500 journalists and correspondents from different media will also be working in Konya during the time the ceremony is held.
Ever since Rumi’s book, Mathnavi topped the best selling books lists in countries such as Germany and the U.S., the people in these countries have become eagerly interested in his poems; and the number of those who appreciate this master of Persian literature is on the rise.
Mowlana Jalal-e-Din Mohammad Rumi, known to the Turks as Mevlana, was a Muslim Sufi, poet, jurist, theologian and teacher of Sufism who was born in Balkh (then a city of the Greater Khorasan province of Persia (Iran), now part of Afghanistan) and died in Konya (in present-day Turkey which was within the Seljuk Empire's territory back then). His birthplace and native tongue points towards a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian, which is widely read in Iran and Afghanistan where the language is spoken. Yet, he is adored to such a degree that citizens of modern Turkey, Pakistan, and India sometimes consider him one of their own.
Rumi’s tomb is located in Konya in present-day Turkey, to which thousands of the poet lovers travel each year.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Mevlana (Rumi) Peace Competition to be held in 2007
"On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Rumi’s birth, Mevlana Peace Competition will be held in 2007."
from the Cultural Heritage News Agency, Tehran, 19 December 2005 (CHN) --
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Mevlana’s birthday, the great Peace Competition of Mevlana, otherwise known as Rumi, the great Iranian poet of the 13th century AD, will be held in Konya, Turkey in 2007.
“Following the suggestion of Turkish government, the year 2007 will be named after Rumi,” Said Abdol-sattar Yazar, head of Konya Cultural and Tourism Office.
In an interview with CHN in Rumi’s death anniversary, Yazar added that the 732nd anniversary of Rumi’s death will also be held in Konya on June/July of next year.
“Rumi’s death anniversary is known as ‘bride’s night’ in Turkey, and was used to be held every year from 10 to 17 of December. However, this year this ritual will be held for a longer period of time, that is from 7 to 17 of December,” Yazar added.
Since Sufi Gnostics regard death as a means of reunion with the beloved (the Lord Almighty), Mevlana’s death anniversary is considered a happy occasion. That’s why it is called the “bride’s night”.
The most interesting part of this ceremony is the famous dance of the “Whirling Dervishes”. This type of dance is known as “Sama”, and is a mystical round dance related to Sufism. Sama, from the Arabic root meaning “to listen”, refers to the spiritual practice of listening to music and achieving unity with the Divine.
Those who are responsible for holding this ceremony have started their job from mid-January by preparing catalogues in 8 languages which have been sent to 35 countries already. A catalogue in Persian language was sent to the Iran’s Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance.
The number of tourists who travel to Turkey to participate in this ceremony is increasing each year which is a proof of the Turkish officials’ success in introducing this special ritual to the world.
In each performance, approximately 12 thousand people are present, watching the ceremony. “45 thousand people are expected to be present at this ceremony. Performing days of this ceremony have been extended to 15 nights due to the increasing number of visitors,” said Yazar.
Last year more than 1,350,000 tourists traveled to Konya. This number is predicted to be increased to two million this year. Due to the increasing number of tourists, the accommodation facilities are being developed to facilitate transportation of the tourists.
Each year and around this time, a large number of groups from India, Pakistan and Iran travel to Konya to take part and perform in this ceremony.
In an interview with the Iranian media, director of Konya Journalists Society announced that ministers of tourism and culture from seven Islamic countries will travel to Konya. He also added that next year, Prince Charles of England and the Spanish Prime Minister will be among the visitors.
CNN, BBC, and Reuters have covered the news of this ceremony in the past. 500 journalists and correspondents from different media will also be working in Konya during the time the ceremony is held.
Ever since Rumi’s book, Mathnavi topped the best selling books lists in countries such as Germany and the U.S., the people in these countries have become eagerly interested in his poems; and the number of those who appreciate this master of Persian literature is on the rise.
Mowlana Jalal-e-Din Mohammad Rumi, known to the Turks as Mevlana, was a Muslim Sufi, poet, jurist, theologian and teacher of Sufism who was born in Balkh (then a city of the Greater Khorasan province of Persia (Iran), now part of Afghanistan) and died in Konya (in present-day Turkey which was within the Seljuk Empire's territory back then). His birthplace and native tongue points towards a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian, which is widely read in Iran and Afghanistan where the language is spoken. Yet, he is adored to such a degree that citizens of modern Turkey, Pakistan, and India sometimes consider him one of their own.
Rumi’s tomb is located in Konya in present-day Turkey, to which thousands of the poet lovers travel each year.
from the Cultural Heritage News Agency, Tehran, 19 December 2005 (CHN) --
On the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Mevlana’s birthday, the great Peace Competition of Mevlana, otherwise known as Rumi, the great Iranian poet of the 13th century AD, will be held in Konya, Turkey in 2007.
“Following the suggestion of Turkish government, the year 2007 will be named after Rumi,” Said Abdol-sattar Yazar, head of Konya Cultural and Tourism Office.
In an interview with CHN in Rumi’s death anniversary, Yazar added that the 732nd anniversary of Rumi’s death will also be held in Konya on June/July of next year.
“Rumi’s death anniversary is known as ‘bride’s night’ in Turkey, and was used to be held every year from 10 to 17 of December. However, this year this ritual will be held for a longer period of time, that is from 7 to 17 of December,” Yazar added.
Since Sufi Gnostics regard death as a means of reunion with the beloved (the Lord Almighty), Mevlana’s death anniversary is considered a happy occasion. That’s why it is called the “bride’s night”.
The most interesting part of this ceremony is the famous dance of the “Whirling Dervishes”. This type of dance is known as “Sama”, and is a mystical round dance related to Sufism. Sama, from the Arabic root meaning “to listen”, refers to the spiritual practice of listening to music and achieving unity with the Divine.
Those who are responsible for holding this ceremony have started their job from mid-January by preparing catalogues in 8 languages which have been sent to 35 countries already. A catalogue in Persian language was sent to the Iran’s Ministry of Islamic Culture and Guidance.
The number of tourists who travel to Turkey to participate in this ceremony is increasing each year which is a proof of the Turkish officials’ success in introducing this special ritual to the world.
In each performance, approximately 12 thousand people are present, watching the ceremony. “45 thousand people are expected to be present at this ceremony. Performing days of this ceremony have been extended to 15 nights due to the increasing number of visitors,” said Yazar.
Last year more than 1,350,000 tourists traveled to Konya. This number is predicted to be increased to two million this year. Due to the increasing number of tourists, the accommodation facilities are being developed to facilitate transportation of the tourists.
Each year and around this time, a large number of groups from India, Pakistan and Iran travel to Konya to take part and perform in this ceremony.
In an interview with the Iranian media, director of Konya Journalists Society announced that ministers of tourism and culture from seven Islamic countries will travel to Konya. He also added that next year, Prince Charles of England and the Spanish Prime Minister will be among the visitors.
CNN, BBC, and Reuters have covered the news of this ceremony in the past. 500 journalists and correspondents from different media will also be working in Konya during the time the ceremony is held.
Ever since Rumi’s book, Mathnavi topped the best selling books lists in countries such as Germany and the U.S., the people in these countries have become eagerly interested in his poems; and the number of those who appreciate this master of Persian literature is on the rise.
Mowlana Jalal-e-Din Mohammad Rumi, known to the Turks as Mevlana, was a Muslim Sufi, poet, jurist, theologian and teacher of Sufism who was born in Balkh (then a city of the Greater Khorasan province of Persia (Iran), now part of Afghanistan) and died in Konya (in present-day Turkey which was within the Seljuk Empire's territory back then). His birthplace and native tongue points towards a Persian heritage. He also wrote his poetry in Persian, which is widely read in Iran and Afghanistan where the language is spoken. Yet, he is adored to such a degree that citizens of modern Turkey, Pakistan, and India sometimes consider him one of their own.
Rumi’s tomb is located in Konya in present-day Turkey, to which thousands of the poet lovers travel each year.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment