If you’re a regular reader of this blog you’ve likely seen photos of the Whirling Dirvishes before. These Sufi dancers get together every Friday night to pray together and work each other into trances. We were among a handful of foreigners on hand to witness the event and it will always live in my mind as one of the most unique experiences of my life.
As the circle of men formed around the center area this small boy felt the spirit and joined in the whirling for a moment. He was certainly the only boy doing it and I imagine it is not something that happens all the time. He’s probably spinning just as fast as he can.
IF YOU GO: Sudan is difficult to enter and to travel. We managed to get Sudanese transit visas, a one day process, as opposed to the months long process of getting a traditional tourist visa. As we passed through we glimpsed a way of life we never could have imagined in this day and age…this tradition of dancing is one of those things. You are best advised to travel through Sudan with your own transportation as bus routes are not plentiful and the smaller, more common form of transport is sit in the back of a pick-up truck…in the middle of the Sahara Desert, with scorching heat like you’ve never imagined.
To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.
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