Voices from Konya

By Mustafa Akyol - Turkish Daily News - Ankara, Turkey
Tuesday, October 2, 2007

The big master of Sufi Islam, Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi was praised in his beloved city, Konya, on his 800th birthday.

Hundreds of dervishes and thousands of Konyans celebrated Rumi’s gospel of love.

The big event organized by the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Konya's local authorities included theatrical dramas, several speeches, two mini concerts and a breath taking presentation by 150 whirling Sufi dervishes which performed their heavenly dance all together at once.

The 20,000 or so Konyans who filled the stadium cheered not only for the dervishes but all others who filled the stage to praise Rumi, including the Culture Minister Ertuğrul Günay, the Afghan Ambassador Masood Khalili who recited Rumi's poem in his original tongue, or modern Sufi musician Ahmet Özhan.

The stars of the night included Mazhar Alanson, Fuat Güner and Özkan Uğur, who make up one of Turkey's most admired pop music bands, the MFÖ.

The group has been famous not only for its creative music but also by the Sufi elements it used in some of its melodies and lyrics. On Mevlana's 800th birthday, the MFÖ performed three songs with strong Sufi themes and devoted them to the ultimate master.

“We are so honored to be in the presence of the revered one,” said Mazhar Alanson, who is probably not the best representative of a conservative life style.

“He is so tolerant that he accepted even us,” he said.