Rumi Night "Whirling Dervishes in Divine Love"

You are warmly invited to an evening of reflection, music, and movement that welcomes people of all faiths, cultures, and backgrounds to experience the beauty of Rumi’s Mevlevi Sema tradition and its timeless message of peace and shared humanity.

Eight centuries ago, the poet and mystic Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi inspired a tradition of whirling, a meditative dance called the Sema, in which the whirling dervish turns in remembrance of the Divine, arms open to receive and to give. In 2005, UNESCO recognized the Mevlevi Sema Ceremony as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This December, Raindrop Foundation San Antonio invites you to witness this living tradition firsthand.

Featuring Master Whirling Dervish Abdulkadir Dikici and Sufi Music by Raindrop Ensemble

Master Abdulkadir Dikici is a Sufi artist recognized by Turkey's Ministry of Culture, with over three decades of experience performing the Mevlevi (Rumi) Sema ceremony across Turkey and around the world. Based in Belgium since 2016, he continues this sacred tradition, building bridges between cultures through music, movement, and spiritual heritage. Rooted in Konya, Turkey — the resting place of Mevlana Rumi — his work carries a timeless message of unity, welcoming people of every faith to witness a living tradition.

Raindrop Ensemble is a San Antonio based community music group that brings together musicians from diverse cultural and faith backgrounds. The ensemble performs traditional and spiritual music from Turkey, the Middle East, the Balkans, South Asia, and neighboring regions, using instruments such as oud, kanun, guitar, and percussion. Through music, Raindrop Ensemble seeks to build bridges between cultures and communities and to share a message of peace, harmony, and friendship.

PROGRAM

✦ An Introduction to Rumi

Poet of Love, Scholar & Sufi Mystic

✦ Live Sufi Music, Dance & Recitation

Featuring Master Abdulkadir Dikici and the Raindrop Ensemble

The program will include a Q&A session followed by a reception offering an opportunity for conversation, connection, and fellowship.

Co-sponsored by Raindrop Foundation San Antonio and UIW Liturgical Outreach.

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