Whirling in search of ecstasy

Participants whirling during a spiritual gathering in the Yenice area of Mugla, Turkiye. Hundreds of people attended the retreat in the Turkish countryside seeking transcendence through sema, the spiritual practice of whirling. — Laetitia Vançon/The New York Times

AN elder gave a blessing, more than 100 people in a large hall recited Quranic verses and a musician played a melody on a reed flute, soon joined by about 15 bandmates on folk instruments and drums.

A woman in white took to the floor and began to spin, her skirt billowing as she accelerated and lifted her arms towards the sky.