The Mevlevi Order or the Mevleviye are a Sufi order founded by the followers of Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi in 1273 in Konya (in present-day Turkey). They are also known as the Whirling Dervishes due to their famous practice of whirling as a form of dhikr (remembrance of Allah). Dervish is a common term for an initiate of the Sufi Path.

The ceremony has seven parts symbolizing the whirling dervish's love of God, humankind and all creation: 

1. Natt-i Serif: praise for God the Creator, for the Prophet Muhammed, and for the prophets preceding him (Musa/Moses and Isa/Jesus, etc.)

2. Kudum: the beating of a small kettledrum symbolizes the command of God which created the universe: "Be!"

3. Ney: The soulful, breathy music of the ney, the open-ended reed flute of the Mevlevi, symbolizes the breathing of life into all creatures.

4. Greeting: the dervishes greet each other three times, a symbol of the soul being greeted by its secret soul.

5. Whirling: the dervishes drop their black cloaks to reveal white costumes fitted to the torso, but with long, flowing skirts. The dropping of the cloak symbolizes the casting off of falsehood and the revelation of truth. Each dervish places his arms on his chest to symbolize his belief in the Oneness of God, "the One." Bowing, he kisses the hand of the Sheikh Efendi (spiritual leader) and seeks permission to enter the sema.

As he enters, each dervish slowly unfurls his arms, his right hand reaching up to heaven to receive its blessings, the left hand down to communicate them to earth. He whirls counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise), right to left, with his heart at the axis of the turn.

The dervishes complete four whirling sessions of approximately 15 minutes each, resting briefly between sessions. The Sheikh Efendi joins in the final session, turning slowly.

6. Prayer: prayers are recited from the Kur'an in praise of God.

7. Fatiha: recitation of the Fatiha, or first chapter of the Kur'an, in memory of all prophets, martyrs and believers, followed by a prayer for the welfare of the nation and its leaders.

Non-dervishes, Muslim and non-Muslim, have always been welcome to witness the sema, a spiritual gift to all creation.

 
Source:
http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/
The Above Mevlevi Whirling Pictures Copyrights by: Tom Brosnahan 

Videos:

This clip shows Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi Order of America in the Sema Ceremony in Istanbul, December 2005.

Small clip showing whirling Dervish Sema ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey at the Mevlevi Monastery.

The Whirling Dervishes of Damascus in Amsterdam.

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