Pilgrims Commemorate The Anniversary Of The Death of Sufi Founder Mevlana Rumi In Istanbul

Whirling Dervishes take part in a Sema Prayer Ceremony marking the anniversary of the death of Mevlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi on December 17, 2017 in Istanbul, Turkey. December 17, 2017 marks the anniversary of the death of Mevlana Jalal al-Din al-Rumi, a poet and the founder of Sufism, a mystical form of Islam. Each year pilgrims come from all over the world to commemorate Rumi's death, in Istanbul an extended ceremony organized by the Mevlana Culture and Art Foundation was held at the historic Galata Mevlava House. Rumi, whose religion was love, was one of the world's most read poets, after his death in 1273 the order was continued by his sons and grandsons. Today pilgrims come from across Turkey and overseas to visit Konya and the site of Rumi's tomb, one of Turkey's most visited tourist attractions. Despite the Mevlava order being shut down and made illegal in 1925 by the new Turkey republic, today the whirling dervishes are the symbol of Turkey's tourism campaigns and in 2008 the Sema ceremony was confirmed by UNESCO as amongst the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. (Footage by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)