 In the 1950s, the Turkish government began allowing the Whirling Dervishes to perform once a year in Konya.The Mewlānā festival is held over two weeks in December; its culmination is on 17 December, the Urs of Mewlānā (anniversary of Rumi's death), called "Šabe Arūs" (شب عروس) (Persian meaning "nuptial night"), the night of Rumi's union with God.In 1974, the Whirling Dervishes were permitted to travel to the West for the first time.