Embrace Sacred Places
Haci Bektas Vali, Turkey
Haci Bektas Veli (1209 -1271 A.D.) was the founder of the Bektasi Dervish (Sufi) Order. This is the Tekke (Meeting House) and the dargahs of Haci Bektas himself as well as of many dervishes of the Bektasi Order. From the 16th through the 18th of August there is a celebration of Haci (Haji - one who has gone on Haj - to Mecca) Bektas Veli’s life and philosophy.
Like most of the Dervish (Sufi) meeting houses in Turkey, this one has been declared a museum and theoretically dervish (Sufi orders) since the time of Ataturk have been outlawed. However, the followers of Haci Bektas are alive and well, some returning to pay their respects in August from distances such as the United States. The philosophy of the Bektasi Order is open hearted and progressive. They dearly love the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which they have framed and put on the wall of their tekke.
Like most of the Dervish (Sufi) meeting houses in Turkey, this one has been declared a museum and theoretically dervish (Sufi orders) since the time of Ataturk have been outlawed. However, the followers of Haci Bektas are alive and well, some returning to pay their respects in August from distances such as the United States. The philosophy of the Bektasi Order is open hearted and progressive. They dearly love the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, which they have framed and put on the wall of their tekke.