Whirling dervishes, Istanbul, Marmara province, Turkey, Europe

Close up of pilgrim in trance, a kavadi (carrier) has a needle through his tongue and is carrying the vel kavadi attached by spikes that pierce his skin, during Hindu Thaipusam Festival, carrying it from Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple up to Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Pilgrims during the Hindu Thaipusam Festival at Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple, the seated kavadi (carrier) is in a trance with a needle through his tongue, and carrying a vel kavadi, decorated with peacock feathers, attached by spikes that pierce his skin, Selangor, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Folk medicine practitioner, Bomoh, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Whirling Dervish dance performance (Mevlevi Sema), a spiritual ceremony performed by whirling dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey, Eurasia

Tourists at Whirling Dervish ayin music performance (Mevlevi Sema) a spiritual ceremony performed by whirling dervishes, Istanbul, Turkey, Eurasia

Woman in trance, Voodoo cult on a beach in Cotonou, Benin, West Africa, Africa

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

Entranced devotee embodying orixa (orisha) Oxosse during Lemnaja festival on Rio Vermelho beach, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, South America

A dancer with an animal mask in a trance performing the fire dance on Bali, Indonesia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Pilgrim in trance during the Hindu Thaipusam Festival during walk from Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple up to Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Pilgrim in trance during the Hindu Thaipusam Festival supported by friends during walk from Sri Subramaniyar Swami Temple up to Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

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

Entranced devotee embodying Orixa (Orisha) Oxosse during Lemnaja festival on Rio Vermelho beach, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, South America

Entranced devotee embodying orixa Oxosse during Lemnaja festival on Rio Vermelho beach, Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, South America

Folk medicine practitioner, Bomoh, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Asia

Entranced Hindu devotee restrained, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Man in trance during voodoo ceremony, Abomey, Benin (Dahomey), Africa

Yoruba women dance in trance at a sacred water festival to honor their animistic spirits. nigeria, africa

Indonesia, Bali, Santhi Karya Ungasan Village, New Year Sanggyang Ceremony, Behind 2 Pemangkus (Priests) In Trance

India israeli family on the beach at arambol, goa.

India israeli family on the beach at arambol, goa.

India israeli family on the beach at arambol, goa.

Kecak dance in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Women dancing at African candomble rituals, Salvador da Bahia, Brazil, South America

Mevlana Whirling Dervishes perform Sema, Sirkeci Central Train Station hall, Istanbul, Turkey, Europe

Whirling Darvishes Ceremony, Cappadocia, Turkey, Europe

Whirling Darvishes Ceremony, Cappadocia, Turkey, Europe

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.

Garuda surrounded by men sitting in a circle chanting in trance during a Kecak dance performance, Ulu Watu, Bali, Indonesia

Priest carrying incense and water for blessings surrounded by men sitting in a circle chanting in trance during a Kecak dance performance, Ulu Watu, Bali, Indonesia

Trance-like drumming: Gnaoua musicians in Essaouira, Morocco