The 400-year-old Bursa Mevlevi Lodge, which was restored and put into service by the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality and regained its first day's glory, hosted the 'Şeb-i Arus Ceremony' on the 98th anniversary of the reunion of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi after 750 years.
The 'Şeb-i Arus ceremony', prepared by Bursa Metropolitan Municipality on the occasion of the 750th anniversary of the reunion of Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi, started with the Mevlevi Procession march in front of the Üftade Lodge and Mosque. Bursa Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Alinur Aktaş, Deputy Governor Hamdi Bolat, AK Party Group Deputy Chairman and Manisa Deputy Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu, AK Party Provincial Chairman Davut Gürkan, district mayors and many citizens who are devoted to Sufism attended the program.
400 years of light
Reminding that they experienced the joy of the Bursa Mevlevi Lodge rising from its ashes a few months ago, Metropolitan Mayor Alinur Aktaş said that although Bursa has changed over time, it is still a Turkish city that preserves the color, texture, atmosphere and view of the founding period in its streets. Mayor Aktaş stated that it is a duty of loyalty to make hidden treasures visible, to repair worn-out structures, to restore destroyed ones, and said, “There are many works we do within the scope of respect for our ancestors and history. Among these, the thing that excited me the most was bringing Bursa Mevlevi Lodge back to its feet after 98 years. Thank God, the light of the lamp lit by Cünûnî Ahmed Dede 400 years ago still illuminates our environment today. "We all experienced the joy of the Bursa Mevlevi Lodge rising from its ashes a few months ago, with the participation of the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy," he said.
“We are trying to keep the Mevlevi legacy alive”
Stating that Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi has continued to spread tolerance, love and peace from Konya to the world for centuries, President Aktaş explained that the Mevlevi culture has made important contributions to both Sufism and cultural life. Stating that they are making great efforts to keep Mevlevi order alive, which left a rich cultural heritage to the Anatolian people, President Aktaş said, “In this context, the year 750, which is the 2023th anniversary of the reunion of His Holiness Mevlana, was declared the 'Year of Mevlana' by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. We were also happy that the reconstruction of Bursa Mevlevi Lodge coincided with this important year. We are experiencing the excitement of the Seb-i Arus ceremonies to be held in Bursa after 98 years. Hazrat Mevlana made great contributions to the formation of Anatolian culture and the establishment of the consciousness of being a nation with his masnavi, which he mixed with knowledge, wisdom and wisdom. I commemorate Hazrat Mevlana with mercy and respect on his 750th anniversary of reunion. “I hope their ideas and works will inspire us,” he said.
After the speeches, Mayor Aktaş presented AK Party Group Deputy Chairman and Manisa Deputy Bahadır Yenişehirlioğlu with a silk painting on which the original version of Bursa Mevlevi Lodge was engraved, in memory of the day. Then we went to Semahane. Yenişehirlioğlu, who read stories from the Mesnevi and explained some couplets, said, “The restoration and resurrection of Bursa Mevlevi Lodge is really very meaningful and valuable. It is very meaningful that a ritual will be performed again after 98 years. This is an incredible activity for our Bursa. It is extremely important and meaningful for both our spiritual, cultural life and spiritual life. "I would like to thank everyone who contributed," he said.
The program then continued with the sema ceremony. Within the scope of the program, exhibitions called '18 services on the path of Mevlevi' and '18 Couples from Mesnevi' were also presented to the visitors.