Konya's Whirling Dervishes Perform Sema Ceremony

KONYA, TURKEY - FEBRUARY 13: A Whirling Dervish waits backstage before performing a Sema ceremony on February 13, 2016 in Konya, Turkey. The Sema ceremony is performed by members of the Mevlevi Order or more famously known as Whirling Dervishes, due to the whirling performed during the ceremony. The Mevlevi order of dervishes was founded by Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Balkhi-Rumi. Rumi whose religion was love, was one of the worlds 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 RumiÕs tomb, one of Turkey's most visited tourist attractions. Despite the Mevlevi 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. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)