The 23rd International Konya Mystic Music Festival, organized by Konya Metropolitan Municipality, has begun with a grand opening ceremony.
Held at Mevlana Square under the theme “Semâ ya Selâ; Niyaz Mukabelesi,” the ceremony featured a sema ritual performed by dozens of whirling dervishes. The performance was followed with great interest and admiration by residents who filled the square.
The ceremony attracted not only residents of Konya but also numerous visitors from outside the city. The simultaneous performance of the sema ritual by the whirling dervishes created an emotional and spiritual atmosphere at Mevlana Square.
The opening ceremony, which reflected the spiritual legacy of Mevlana and his universal message of love, was attended by Mustafa Uzbaş, Deputy Mayor of Konya Metropolitan Municipality, and Fikret Fidan, Provincial Director of Culture and Tourism.
EVENTS ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FESTIVAL
As part of the festival’s opening-day events, Ender Balkır met with music lovers at Kültürpark Amphitheater at 7 p.m. with his “Acoustic Folk Songs” performance, while the Konya Metropolitan Municipality Mehter Band performed a concert titled “Epic Folk Songs” at Selçuklu Congress Center at 8:30 p.m.
The first day’s program also featured a talk titled “The Search for Aesthetics in Islamic Civilization” by Ahmet Çalışır, Head of the Metropolitan Municipality’s Department of Culture, Arts and Social Affairs. At the Taş Bina, ney player Ahmet Şahin gave a ney performance, while tambur musician and music educator Kağan Ulaş presented a program titled “Sounds and Relationships.”
MUSICAL TRADITIONS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD MEET IN KONYA
The International Konya Mystic Music Festival, which has become an important part of Konya’s cultural and spiritual identity, brings together musical traditions from different parts of the world in Konya within the framework of Mevlana’s message of tolerance and love.
Running through September 30, the festival will host 10 international music groups at Selçuklu Congress Center every day at 8:30 p.m. The program will feature musical ensembles from countries including Romania, the Netherlands, Colombia, Russia, Taiwan, Tunisia and Cuba. In addition, 10 different groups from Türkiye will take the stage every day at 7 p.m. at Kültürpark Amphitheater.
