Rumi This Time in London
London played host to a Rumi event within the framework of what has been declared by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the "2007 Year of Mevlana."
On the night of the opening ceremony, Oct. 6, there was a video screening on Turkey. Following a brief keynote speech by Professor Mahmud Erol Kiliç, whirling dervishes put on a performance. An exhibition about Rumi was launched and photos from an exhibition in Istanbul's Hagia Sophia, which were displayed from July to August, were put on display for visitors. The exhibition, "Mevlana and Mevlevilik," will visit other cities as well.
The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism supported the event.
Turkey's Ambassador to London Yigit Alpogan and his wife, Undersecretary Atilay Ersan from the Embassy and Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' Representative to London Dilek Yavuz Yanik were among the guests.
The events will later head to Spain, Chili, Singapore, Indonesia, Switzerland, Germany and Syria.
During the night, bags full of Rumi souvenirs were handed out to guests. Among CD's, pencils, notebooks and booklets, there was a book titled "Fundamentals of Rumi's Thought," written by Fethullah Gülen. The book was published in New Jersey. A conference on Rumi was held Nov. 6 in the Cadogan Hall in Chelsea. The hall, designed by well known architect Robert Fellowes Chisholm as a Christian Science Church is characterized by its Byzantine architecture and hosts many concerts.
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