U.S. most attracted to Mevlana Rituals and Music

By Anadolu News Agency (aa)/Zaman Online - Konya - Turkey
Tuesday, August 15, 2006

The Turkish Sufi Music Society in affiliation with the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry performed 75 traditional Sema programs throughout the world; however, the group attracted the most attention in the United States.

Sufi Music Society’s Director Omer Faruk Belviranli said foreign news media have shown significant interest in the whirling dance performed by the Mevlana dervishes after UNESCO included the whirling dance into the world heritage list.

Belviranli said the society held 75 traditional Sema rituals programs, attracting enormous interest and demonstrating that people from all corners of the globe are intrigued and interested in Sufi music and Sema rituals.

U.S. audiences showed the greatest interest in our program, said Belviranli, and added, “We think it is because Mevlana’s writings and books about Mevlana list among best-sellers in the United States.”