Sheb Arus
Rumi's Wedding with Eternity

Each year, on the 17th of December, the Australian Intercultural Society organizes  a special Sema ceremony offered by the Mevlevi Order of Australia to celebrate Hazreti Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi’s ‘Sheb-i Arus’ or ‘Wedding Night’. It is the traditional night in the modern era when the Mevlevi Order of Sufis, the whirling dervishes, and the many lovers of Mevlana celebrate and remember his union with his Beloved, ‘Wedding with Eternity’. The event was celebrated at Malvern Town Hall with 300 enthusiastic guests arriving from all regions of Melbourne. Dr Stewart Sharlow was the main speaker who launched the event with a welcoming speech and a brief explanation about the significance of the night. The Australian Sufi Music Group then performed touching the hearts of many guests with their spiritual Sufi Music. It was then time for the main ceremony. Dervishes from the Mevlevi Order of Australia came onto the stage with their spectacular traditional Mevlevi costumes and commenced their ritual. As the Dervishes began to perform Sema many of the guests were standing up to get a glimpse of the amazing spiritual presentation of the Sema.

The Australian Intercultural Society would like to thank the Mevlevi order of Australia for sharing their special night with the members of the society at large. The Australian Intercultural Society would also like to thank the Australian Sufi Music Group for their performance and the Stonington Council for their support.