Whirling dervishes enthrall audience

LAHORE: To express solidarity with brotherly Muslim country Turkey, the Lahore Arts Council in collaboration with Younes Emery Institute of Turkish Cultural Centre held a musical event titled “Sufi Night” for Sufi music lovers in which Whirling Dervishes of Istanbul, “Konya Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble” enthralled the audience with their mesmerising performance in their unique style here Tuesday, at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall. Punjab Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar was the chief guest of the evening, who graced the event along with Consulate General Turkey Emir Ozbay, Chairperson Lahore Arts Council Moneeza Hashmi and Executive Director Lahore Arts Council Ather Ali Khan. The renowned Turkish Whirling Dervishes, who need no introduction because of their unmatchable Sufi’s whirling dance called, “Sema” the literal meaning of the word "Semâ’" is "to hear". For Mevlevi dervishes, it carries the added meaning of being enraptured while listening to music, being in motion and whirling. Sema is a Ziker said silently while whirling on foot. The whirling dervishes silently call "Allah" inwardly on every whirl.

Punjab Governor said, “We welcome our distinguished guests from Turkey; Turkey is our Islamic brotherly country with which our diplomatic and bilateral relations are very cordial.” He said that the relations between Pakistan and Turkey span decades, which is getting stronger and deeper with time.