Daily life in Omdurman Souq, the largest market in Sudan, Khartoum, Sudan, Africa

Whirling dervishes, dancer in trance at Sufi ceremony, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Whirling dervishes, dancer in trance at Sufi ceremony, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Whirling dervishes, dancer at Sufi ceremony, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Souk, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Souk, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Whirling dervishes, high priest at Sufi ceremony, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

The Mahdi's tomb, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

The Madhi's Tomb, Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan, Africa

Whirling dervishes, official at Sufi ceremony, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Souk, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Whirling dervishes, dancer at Sufi ceremony, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Trader in the souk, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Souk, Omdurman, Sudan, Africa

Color satellite image of Omdurman, Sudan. The city lies on the western banks of the River Nile, opposite the capital Khartoum. Image collected on October 25, 2017 by Sentinel-2 satellites.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Every Friday dervishes gather an hour before sunset in front of Sheikh Hamed al-Nil tomb in Omdurman, Sudan to perform a ritual called Zikr (Dhikr). The ceremony starts chanting words of gratitude to the Prophet Mohammed. The audience interacts with the chanters, dancing to the rhythms of the percussion instruments. The dervishes start whirling around. The music, the fragrance of burning incense, the endless repetition of religious chants creates a state of ecstasy, a kind of trance in which human soul is believed to communicate directly with God.

Every Friday dervishes gather an hour before sunset in front of Sheikh Hamed al-Nil tomb in Omdurman, Sudan to perform a ritual called Zikr (Dhikr). The ceremony starts chanting words of gratitude to the Prophet Mohammed. The audience interacts with the chanters, dancing to the rhythms of the percussion instruments. The dervishes start whirling around. The music, the fragrance of burning incense, the endless repetition of religious chants creates a state of ecstasy, a kind of trance in which human soul is believed to communicate directly with God.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Hai el-Arab Souq in Omdurman is the largest souq in Sudan. Everything from food stalls to ironmongers can be found here.

Tomb of Muhammad Ahmad bin Abd Allah, the Mahdi; Omdurman, Khartoum, Sudan