Kosovo Sufi dervishes mark birth of Ali, Editors Pick, 24 Mar 16

Members of Kosovo s Sufi religious order, known locally as Dervishes, on Thursday performed rituals to mark the start of spring and the birth of Ali, a revered figure in Islam. The celebrations include hours of trancelike swaying and chanting of prayers, and piercing their bodies with needles and knives. Kosovo s Dervish community carries on centuriesold mystical practices, such as selfpiercing with needles and knives, as a way to earn salvation and find a path to God. Sufi Dervishes of the Rifa i order are a religious cult founded in the 12th century in Basra, Iraq. Find out more about AP Archive and how to licence our footage for commercial use: Story number for this item is: 4029088