Istanbul Sufi Ceremonies Ensemble Performs at Cappadocia Balloon and Culture Route Festival
The Culture Route Festivals, organized annually by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, began this year in Nevşehir as the first stop of the season. Designed to highlight the country’s diverse cultural heritage through art and performance, the festival transforms historic cities into vibrant cultural destinations.
As part of the Cappadocia Balloon and Culture Route Festival, the Istanbul Sufi Ceremonies Ensemble took part in a series of spiritual programs on August 8–9, 2023.
The program opened with a spiritual talk by Sheikh M. Fatih Çıtlak at the Damat İbrahim Pasha Mosque within the Kurşunlu Complex, where he reflected on the Sufi worldview and the Mevlevi path of inner refinement. Later that evening, Semah: The Gathering of the Forty was performed among the amazing landscapes of Paşabağları, directed by Hüseyin Cem Durak with artistic contributions from members of the State Folk Dance Ensemble.
The following night, the same site hosted the performance Meâli Semâ, directed by Yüce Gümüş and led once again by Sheikh Çıtlak. Unlike traditional sema presentations, Meâli Semâ seeks to guide the audience toward a deeper understanding of the ritual’s meaning. It offers insight into the symbolic elements of the Mevlevi ceremony—such as the garments, the circular motion, and the prayer mat—unpacking how each component represents stages of the human soul’s journey toward spiritual maturity.
This thoughtful and immersive presentation transported spectators beyond the realm of performance, into a contemplative space of timeless resonance. Among the distinguished guests in attendance was Mr. Erkan Tarhan, Deputy Director General of Fine Arts.











