Mevlana Jalaleddin Rumi’s Clothes Will Be Exhibited for the First Time Since His Death

Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi's clothes kept in special boxes for years have come to light for preservation work. A team of three people under the Mevlana Museum Directorate in Turkey's Konya, where Rumi's is also laid to rest, meticulously mends clothes made of cotton and silk.

The clothes belonging to Rumi began to be restored with the permission of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. During the preservation work, clothes belonging to Shams Tabrizi, a great poet, Rumi's spiritual instructor, and noted mystical theologian Rumi's father Baha' al-Din will also be repaired. Upon the completion of restoration work, the clothes will be presented to the museum visitors for the first time after 800 years.

Museum Director Dr. Naci Bakırcı said: ‘’ We can estimate that his height was around 163 centimeters (5.3 feet) and while his weight was 60 kilograms (132 pounds), re 22 pieces of clothing in our collection attributed to Rumi. There are shirts, robes, and other fabric samples. We have three restorators working in our museum at the moment. They are experts in textile and weaving. We decided to restore these clothes after obtaining the necessary permission from our Ministry. Then we decided at what points the fabrics should be treated. Because the task of the museologist is to transfer these cultural assets to future generations in a healthier way."

Stating that 19 of the 22 clothes in the museum's collection are much worn, museum director Bakırcı added: "The collection of the museum can be described as very special. Konya dervish convent is a rare place that was converted into a museum by the decision of the Council of Ministers upon the closure of the dervish lodges and zawiyas in 1925 through the effort of secularization. From Rumi's death to today, the rich, statespersons, and Rumi followers have gifted very valuable items to this place. These were nicely stored and preserved in the dervish lodge until it became a museum."

The museum sets to open an exhibition consisting of Rumi's clothes in December.