Konya historical background
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
Konya is a large city on the central plateau of Anatolia. Now it has population about 1,5 million. Konya has a reach history and historically also known as Ikonion (Greek) and Iconium (Latin).
Konya reached its height of wealth and influence as of the second half of the 12th century when Anatolian Seljuk sultans also subdued the Turkish Beyliks to their east, thus establishing their rule over virtually all of eastern Anatolia, as well as acquiring several port towns along the Mediterranean and the Black Sea and even gaining a momentary foothold in Crimea. This golden age lasted until the first decades of the 13th century.
Alongside a generally high level of instruction and modern buildings, we have been told that Konya has a reputation of being one of the more religiously conservative metropolitan centers in Turkey. It was once known as the "citadel of Islam", and it is still more devout than other cities.
You can watch my 3 min 11 sec Video clip Konya Slide-show with Turkish pop music by Petek Dincoz – Catilmis Kaslarinla. You may watch my high resolution photo of Konya on the Google Earth according to the following coordinates 37° 52' 17.82" N 32° 29' 59.75" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Central Square .
sema ceremony
by traveloturc
Fix-footed, the semazen provides a point of contact with this Earth through which the divine blessings can flow. Turning from right to left, he embraces all creation as he chants the name of God within the heart. The Sema ritual consists of seven parts:
1. It starts with the singing of the Nat-i-Serif, a eulogy to the Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him), who represents love. Praising him is praising the truth of God that he and all the prophets before him brought.
2. Then follows the call of the drum and the slap of glory, calling the semazens to awaken and Be. This begins the procession known as the Sultan Veled Walk. It is the salutation of one soul to another, acknowledged by bowing.
3. Then begins the Sema ritual itself. It consists of four selams or salutes. The first selam is the birth of truth by way of knowledge. The second selam expresses the rapture of witnessing the splendor of creation. The third selam is the transformation of rapture into love; the sacrifice of mind and self to love. It represents complete submission and communion with God. The fourth selam is the semazen's coming to terms with his destiny and his return to his task in creation. In the fourth selam, the sheikh enters the circling dervishes, where he assumes the place of the sun in the center of the circling planets.
4. The Sema end with a reading from the Qur'an. The sheikh and dervishes complete their time together with the greeting of peace and then depart, accompanied by joyous music of their departure. One of the beauties of this seven-centuries-old ritual is the way that it unifies the three fundamental components of man's nature; mind, emotion, and spirit, combining them in a practice and a worship that seeks the purification of all three in the turning towards Divine Unity. But most significantly, the enrichment of this earth and the well-being of humanity as a whole.
You can also watch thish video to have an idea about sema ceremony:
http://www.video75.com/3xQgD-o0Q7Z/mevlana-festival-in-konyaturkey/
“Sema” - whirling dervishes dance
by Kuznetsov_Sergey
Rumi is also well known for the Sufi brotherhood he established with its distinctive whirling and circling dance, known as Sema and practiced by the Dervishes.
With arms held high, the right hand lifted upward to receive blessings and energy from heaven, the left hand turned downward to bestow these blessing on the earth, and the body spinning from right to left, the dervish revolves around the heart and embraces all of creation with love.
The dervishes form a circle, each turning in harmony with the rhythm of the accompanying music as the circle itself moves around, slowly picking up speed and intensity until all collapse in a sort of spiritual exaltation.
You may watch my 2 min 23 sec VIDEO-Clip Whirling Dervishes with Traditional Turkish folk music.
Spoon Dance of Konya
by traveloturc
Konya is famous with the folkloric Spoon Dance ...consists of male and female dancers clicking out the dance rhythm with a pair of wooden spoons in each hand.
They use to dance according to the rhytm and you can enjoy how they are masters to build rythym only with two wooden spoon ...
Spoon-making still continues in some regions of Anatolia. In Konya in particular, spoons have been made since Seljuk times. Boxwood, oak and pear are the most generally used woods. The spoons are shaped with the help of small adze or rasp, and are still made in the Akseki, Gediz and Tarakli regions. Today, as well as spoons for the kitchen, there are also spoons in folk dances. Spoons are cleaned with emery paper, decorated with various designs and figures or writing, and then colored before being sold.
If you can have the chances to find some performers in Konya dont miss it ..Its really interesting..
you can also find the examples in you tube in the name of
"Konya kasik "
you can also watch this video to have an idea about :
spoon dance from Konya
Most religious?
by Bregman
Konya is probably the most religious city in Turkey. As you can see here I was asked to wear this cloth on top of my shorts. While it is quite standard in other mosques for women wearing shorts, it is quite unusual for men. Anyway, it was quite a small price to pay.
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Hadja Nasreddin at Aksehir
Konya - Bazaar
“Kirazlibahche” restaurant
“Sema” - whirling dervishes dance
