Rumi Was Commemorated Via 'Seb-i Arus' Ceremonies
Rumi was commemorated with Seb-i Arus ceremonies, held on the anniversary of his death, within the scope of Rumi’s 747th Reunion Anniversary International Commemoration Ceremonies in Konya. Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Şentop, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy attended the ceremony held without audience due to the pandemic.
Rumi was born on 30 September, 1207 in Balkh city of Khorasan, which is within the borders of Afghanistan today, and he passed away in Konya, on 17 December 1273. Rumi considered the day of death as rebirth, reaching his loved one, that is, the God. In Mevleviyeh, the day Rumi died was accepted as the 'Seb-i Arus', in which he called the day of his death as 'Seb-i Arus', meaning 'wedding night'. On the anniversary of Rumi's death, "Reunion" (meeting with a lover) ceremonies are held.
Rumi’s 747th Reunion Anniversary International Commemoration Ceremonies started at the Rumi Museum with the ‘Gülbank’ prayer at the cist of Rumi this year, and then the whirling ceremony was held at the Rumi Cultural Center. Chairman of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Şentop, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Konya Governor Vahdettin Özkan and Rumi's 22nd generation granddaughter Esin Çelebi Bayru attended the ceremony, which was held without audience and was limited to 1 hour due to the pandemic. The program, followed by 35 foreign media employees, was broadcast live on television channels and social media accounts of the Culture and Tourism Provincial Directorate.
Chairman of Turkish Grand National Assembly Şentop: A sufi that other believers also cry for
Chairman of Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Şentop pointed out that Rumi is a ‘Sufi’ but the day he died was a day not only by Muslims but also by Christians and other faiths cried. Şentop stated that in recent years they have witnessed some regional and global mistakes in which all the truth has been tried to be turned upside down. He stated that ‘Some of these mistakes are based on supportive relationships with terrorism. Some of them are powerless, in the form of persecution of poor people and communities. The others take place in the form of miserable attitudes and actions that want to demonize Islam, the religion of peace and well-being, its dear Prophet and Muslims. Rumi says that ‘The sea doesn't get dirty just because dogs' lips touched’. We see that different and contemporary models of Mongols, who plundered and destroyed our entire civilization in the past, are trying to get on the stage of history in the east and west. This is manifested sometimes in the form of direct war and destruction, sometimes on the diplomatic table, sometimes through the media with manipulation, insults and efforts to reverse the truth. The enemies of Turkey, which is tried to be weakened, eliminated and hindered by multi dimensional blockades, sanctions and other methods, should know well that all their unjust and devoid of human love is at the feet of our nation and state. I would like to proudly state that the great spirit of this land; has and will continue to provide the necessary responses to local, regional and global focuses that are against humanity and peace, anti-good and well-being.’
Minister Ersoy: There is no despair in our values
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy said that ‘Rumi left us a unique life as a heritage. When we look at the world today, we see that many people meet evil at the hands of those who say they bring goodness to them. Call it as democracy, freedom or civilization; we have learned that bad intentions can hide behind good words both in the past and today. So, seeking goodness in the right place in the right way and in the right people is also a virtue. Moreover, while many examples of wrong and right stand before us with their beginning and end, we have to take the responsibility of the wrong way we have entered. While we make the choice, we cannot blame anyone else for the result. For this reason, we turn our faces to Rumi. We try to understand, explain and live his doctrines. While there is a guide who has sought and found good among ourselves and made countless people find it, there is no more natural and true than referring to it. Let's not forget that doing wrong is only human. We are human; we make mistakes one way or another. However, there is no despair in our values. Every time we come to this lodge we know that the door is always open as long as we do not lock our hearts, let's not hesitate to enter.’
Whirling Performance at Şeb-i Arus Ceremony
After the protocol speeches, Konya Turkish Sufi Music Ensemble, affiliated with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, performed a whirling show. The whirling, which was watched with great interest by the guests, was performed by whirling dervishes, who are considered to be ‘Mevlevi dervishes’. Sema is the disappearance of a human being by turning to the truth, exalting with reason and love, leaving his soul, and returning to his servitude as a perfect human being who has reached maturity.
