Скачать или смотреть Sufi meditation a popular spectacle for tourists

(29 Jul 2018) LEAD IN:
The centuries old practice of Sufi Tanoura has been popularised by the Whirling Dervishes.
While it's roots are in Turkey, a performance in Cairo brings the mesmeric movements to a new audience.

STORY-LINE:
Spinning into a state of meditation.
This is the Al Tanoura whirling dance.
Taken from the Turkish Sufism of the 13th century it is now performed for audiences in Cairo.
Originally it was used as a way for worshippers to feel close to God and find inner peace.
They listen to the music, focus on God, and spin their bodies in repetitive circles.
"The Sufi Tanoura is like the one you've just seen representing religious singing and certain rituals and philosophy. The main dancer represents the sun and the rest of the dancers represent the planets which are circulating around the sun," says Al Tanoura member Ahmed Atwa.
The Sufi ideal of coming as close as possible to God has been rejected by orthodox Muslims who say it is a blasphemous act and it nearly disappeared over the years.
Today, the Tanoura dance, with its colourful robes, has been made popular again as a cultural performance.
"The origin of Tanoura dance is Turkish and it dates back to the days of the philosopher Jalaluddin Rumi, and it has certain specific rituals, but it developed in Egypt over time and they used multi-coloured clothes, the outfit of Whirling Dervish dancers, with a different kind of music," says another Tanoura member, Sameh Metwaly.
The circling movement was introduced by Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi, a great thinker, philosopher, poet, or Sufi in present day Turkey, and his followers, the Mevlevi Sufi Order.
The Mevlevi Sufi Order was established in 1273 after Rumi's death.
Even though many visitors do not understand the symbolic movements, they are still impressed by the spectacle.
"I decided to come because I have heard of Sufism and I wanted to see the dancing. It was very nice, it was very special, very beautiful. And the performers and the musicians were very talented," says tourist Danielle Griffiths.
Doha Ali is from the Menoufya Governorate and came to watch the Tanoura show.
"I like it very much, I was very happy and excited during the show as it was the first time for me to see it."

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