LAHORE, April 17: The famous waltz dance has been derived from Sema, a ritual of whirling dervishes. “Waltz is a worldly dance while Sema is a mystic practice,” says Sheik Nail Kesova, the head of Turkey’s Galata Mevlevi Music and Sema Ensemble.

“The west claims they developed waltz some 150 years ago in which a man and a woman turn around themselves while the Mevlevi ritual of Sema, as we know it today, goes back to the 13th century,” the Sheik told this reporter on the concluding night of the first International Mystic Music Sufi Festival on Sunday.

Terming the Mevlevi ritual of Sema an ‘extra prayer’ or a practice to feel God, he said: “It is very much like the solar system. Every planet revolves not only around itself but also the sun.”

The Sheik, who bowed his head in respect every time he referred to Maulana Jalaluddin Romi, said: “The ritual begins with na’atia kalam of Hazrat (Romi), followed by a solo improvisation of an open longitudinal bamboo flute ‘ney.’ The whirling dervish or Semazen, while standing with his arms crossed, depict the apparent figure ‘one’, signifying unity with God. The dervish stretches out his arms as he starts whirling. His right hand is extended to the sky as if praying and ready to receive Karam-i-Elahi while his left hand at which he looks is turned so that his palm faces the ground.”

“The movement signifies the forwarding of the Semazen to the people of the spiritual knowledge he receives from God. Rotating counter-clockwise around his heart, the Semazen symbolically embraces all the human beings and other creatures with love,” said the Sheik.

“The Mevlevi ritual is Zikr as the Semazen says Allah in his heart while turning every time. It is an attempt to make a believer more stronger spiritually as it takes its origin from the Holy Quran,” he emphasised.

The west, he said, had been taking inspiration from the rich Muslim cultural and educational heritage and knowledge. Yogurt and soup were discovered by the Muslims but the west did not even acknowledge the fact today.

The Sheik had met a number of young Pakistanis and holds them in high esteem. “The Pakistani youth are quite calm. They are clear headed and not nervous. There is a need to realise them Islam is a religion of love, tolerance and brotherhood.” —Staff Reporter