A silent ceremony — with accommodations built in.

whirling-dervish.com conforms to WCAG 2.2 level AA. Independent audit 3 April 2026. The Sirkeci hall itself is an early-20th-century railway building with a step-free main entrance and accessible seating.

Semantic HTML · skip links · focus rings · autocomplete attrs on booking · lang="tr" on Turkish vocabulary and lang="ota" on Ottoman terms (with phonetic guides).

The ceremony's four Selams are explained in plain language — not assumed knowledge. Mevlevi religious concepts are glossed inline: first mention explains, subsequent uses assume.

The homepage hero features four concentric circles rotating at different speeds (120s, 80s, 160s, 60s) — a visual homage to the dervishes' rotation. When prefers-reduced-motion: reduce is set, the animation stops entirely — circles render as static geometry. No sub-animations, no subtle drift, no parallax.

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Large-print PDF, plain-text, audio recording, braille-ready, Easy Read: accessibility@istanbul-tourist-information.com. Ceremony programme is available in large-print format on request — ask when booking and we'll have it at your seat.

The Sirkeci Garı Mevlevihane Salonu is on the second floor of Sirkeci Train Station. Lift access from ground level; no stairs required. Step-free main entrance to the hall itself.

Wheelchair spaces: 6 dedicated positions on row 7, with clear sightlines to the ceremonial floor. Companion ticket free for essential carers — email with booking reference. Accessible WC on the hall floor.

Floor seating in the front rows requires sitting on floor cushions — this is how the traditional seating is arranged and can't be modified without breaking the tradition. If floor sitting isn't possible, the back rows have regular chairs — all rows are the same ticket.

The Sema is performed in silence (except for the ney and kudüm musicians). No spoken commentary during the ceremony. The music is live but not loud — it's ambient, prayer-volume.

For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors: you miss nothing essential. The ceremony's meaning is visual — the four Selams are conveyed through movement, costume changes, and spatial choreography. The printed programme (EN/TR/AR, large-print on request) explains what each Selam represents so you can follow along.

For blind and low-vision visitors: the ceremony's structure is described in detail in the programme. A volunteer usher will, on request, whisper brief descriptive commentary ("the dervishes are removing their black cloaks now") before each Selam begins. This happens outside the silent performance itself — it respects both accessibility and the ceremony's sanctity. Arrange at booking.

For autistic visitors or those with sensory sensitivities: the silence, low lighting, and slow pacing often make this more accessible than typical tourist experiences, not less. No surprise sounds, no crowd chatter, no bright flashes. The standard tier has aisle seats available for easier exit if needed.