Rumi's Anniversary Ceremonies Draw Crowds to Turkey's Konya

Konya, in central Turkey, is once again experiencing a surge of visitors for the 751st anniversary of Rumi's reunion, as it does every year.

From Dec. 7 to 17, visitors from both domestic and international locations come to Konya to participate in the commemoration events of Rumi.

Tourists, both local and foreign, visit to watch the ceremonies, explore the Mevlana Museum and the historic mosques in the city during the day, and in the evening, attend the Sema ceremony held at the Mevlana Cultural Center.

Chinese visitor Ça Zoni, who traveled to Konya for the events, shared that he first learned about Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi from a friend, which inspired him to visit Turkey and attend the ceremonies.

"I am traveling around the world. I’ve been to Malaysia, Singapore, and Iran, and now I’m here," he said. "I decided to come a year ago, and it’s wonderful to finally be here. I don’t know much about Mevlana, but I love him. I read some of his poems while I was in China."

Iranian medical students Ghazal Alizade and Anahita Houshyari, studying at the Faculty of Medicine in Eskişehir, expressed their joy at being in Konya for the ceremonies. Ghazal Alizade, visiting Konya for the second time, remarked, "We came to Konya to visit Mevlana. We truly love the city—it’s such a beautiful place, full of poetry. We hope to attend the ceremonies tonight. I’ve read Mevlana’s poems; we’re familiar with his works."

Anahita Houshyari shared how profoundly moved she was by the city’s spiritual atmosphere. "This is my second time in Konya, but my first time attending the ceremonies. We are Azerbaijani from Iran, and I came here as a student from Eskişehir. Visiting Mevlana's tomb was an emotional experience; I cried inside. The energy I felt is indescribable—this place is extraordinary."

This year's Rumi commemoration ceremonies, themed "Muhabbet Vakti" ("Time for Love"), will culminate in the Shebi Arus ceremony on the evening of Dec. 17.