In pictures: Whirling dervish ritual honours Rumi, the Sufi mystic poet

Each year, thousands of people travel to the Turkish city of Konya to attend a weeklong series of events and ceremonies that mark the death of the 13th-century Islamic poet, scholar and Sufi mystic Jalaladdin Rumi. (Source:Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Rumi, who is known as Mevlana in Turkey, was born in Balkh — which is now in Afghanistan — in 1207, but settled in Konya, where he died on Dec. 17, 1273. His son, Sultan Veled, established the Mevlevi order of the mystical form of Islam, Sufism, after his death.(Source:Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Instead of mourning his death, however, the ceremonies celebrate what his followers believe is his union with God.(Source:Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

The main feature of the "Sheb-i Arus" or "night of the union," is an enchanting ritual performed by the dervishes of the Mevlevi order — more commonly known as the whirling dervishes.(Source:Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

The rite begins with a recital of prayers and verses from the Quran. The dervishes, dressed in long white robes symbolizing shrouds, black cloaks symbolizing tombs and long headgear symbolizing tombstones, then rise from the ground to salute each other. (Source: Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Leaving their cloaks on the ground, they take their places around the circular floor and begin to spin to reach a trance-like state that they believe unites them with God. The ritual is performed to the sound of chanting and music from a reed flute and other instruments. (Source:Francisco Seco/ AP Photo)

As they whirl, the dervishes' right hands are symbolically turned upward toward God, while their left hands are turned downward to Earth.(Source: Francisco Seco/ AP Photo)

The ceremony ends as it started, with the recital of prayers. (Source:Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Fahri Ozcakil, sheikh of the Mevlevi order of whirling dervishes, offers his prayers during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony, in Konya, central Turkey. (Source:Francisco Seco/AP Photo)

Whirling dervishes of the Mevlevi order perform during a Sheb-i Arus ceremony in Konya, central Turkey. (Source:Francisco Seco/ AP Photo)