Whirling Dervishes in East Ham Town Hall

​August 10th is Adam Day as celebrated by the Sufi Community where they invite members of the religions whose religious teaching is that they are descended from Adam (and Eve) to celebrate together as children of ADAM regardless of our race ethnicity, faith belief, creed or lifestyle. For unity in diversity.

Through an introduction to members of the Sufi community who attend East London Three Faiths Forum, we have attended this event last year and this.

We hear speakers from the three Abrahamic faiths (not a lot of representation from the Jewish community this year as August 10th was a Friday, but one scholar was able to attend) and other organisations involved in community cohesion (this year it was an Inspector from the Newham police who asked us to work together for the good of the whole community) and the religions are asked to provide entertainment.

For the Christian entertainment, Sally Barton from St Mary’s Woodford bravely volunteered and with her guitar and sang “If I had a hammer” and “Now the green blade rises from the buried grain” which went down very well.

The Jewish community was not able to provide anyone this year but last year they found an Irish fiddle player who played jigs and reels.

A father and son from the Sufi community demonstrated Sufi Whirling which starts off very slowly and becomes mesmeric. I understand the participants are in a trancelike state to be able to make so many turns – far far more than the 32 fourchettes of the Sleeping Beauty - without falling over.

The Sufis also provided a couple of young singers whose song, if the name of God had been changed from Allah, would have been welcomed in any Christian gathering.

My husband spoke last year on Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and this year on the Psalms which have their place in all three Abrahamic faiths.

And then we had a very enjoyable meal (the curry was very mild and I got to taste Irn Bru) and didn’t have to wait too long for the 101 bus to take us back to Wanstead.

Visiting East Ham Town Hall was quite an experience – late Victorian and definitely there to make a statement of civic pride.
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Jean Wyber