A whirling dervish wearing a maroon full-skirted long gown dancing during a Sema ceremony held at the Galata Melevi Tekkesi in Istanbul. Pivoting on one foot as they circle the room, right hand facing heaven and the left facing earth, the whirling dervishes symbolize spinning planets revolving around God. The whirling dervishes are members of a sect of Islam called Sufism, and its adherents are Sufis.

Nikon 8008 35-135 mm Sensia 100

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copyright @1997 Tewfic El-Sawy.