Given that he was a 13th century spiritual figure whose legacy is still being continued by his family (the Çelebis) and his devout followers, perhaps one could go so far as to say that Rumi’s outreach is not very far from that of Buddha, Jesus, Moses and Mohammed. If you think I’m exaggerating, I suggest that you visit the Web site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which declared 2007 to be the Year of Mevlana as the sage of openness, tolerance and overwhelming power of universal love. Plus, did you know that this Muslim mystic has been the best-selling poet in the United States in recent years, with over 250,000 copies sold of his masterpiece, “Mesnevi”?

Secretary-General of the Ferdowsi Foundation Yaser Movahhedfar announced that the foundation will offer an official proposal to UNESCO for the naming of 2009 as “Ferdowsi Year”.

The Mevlana Museum in the central Anatolian city of Konya has been included in the “Virtual Tour of Museums” application initiated by the Culture and Tourism Ministry.

A multitude of activities will be held in the Netherlands to mark the "Mevlana Year" till 2010.

Mercan Dede’s 800  isn’t what was expected, that is to say what it’s not is the proposed fourth album in his elements tetralogy.

TEHRAN -- Iranian experts and researchers on Rumi were honored in a ceremony named “Molana Is Hidden” held at the venue of Amirkabir University on Monday.

LONDON, December 28 (IranMania) - ?Roumi le brul? a book about the Persian poet Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi written by Nahal Tajadod, was reviewed at Tehran?s Book City on December 25, MNA reported. 

TEHRAN -- The U.S. director Abdul Latif Salazar plans to make a film focusing on the life of the Persian poet and mystic Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi.

TEHRAN, Jan. 8 (MNA)– Iran’s outstanding vocalist Shahram Nazeri is to give a concert in Vienna tomorrow accompanied by the Irani traditional band.

The year 2007, marked by UNESCO as the Year of Mevlana, has given birth to so many previously unthought-of projects and events to commemorate the great Turkish Sufi saint Mevlana Muhammad Jelaluddin Rumi on the 800th anniversary of his birth.

President Abdullah Gul said Monday there is need to understand the philosophy of Mevlana more than ever today.

President Abdullah Gül will go to Konya to attend a ceremony marking the 734th anniversary of the passing of the great Sufi master Mevlana Muhammed Jelaluddin Rumi, due to be commemorated this evening with a series of events sponsored by the Greater Konya Municipality.

Human beings are equipped in the best possible way, both materially and spiritually. The human being is potentially able to achieve the level of “the best of creation,” which is dependent on his ability to use and develop his endowment of spiritual attributes.

Iran’s programs marking Rumi’s 800th birth anniversary will be brought to a close with the celebration “500 Days with Molana” on December 19th at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall.

Iranian musician Hushang Kamkar has recently completed “The Molana Symphonic Composition”, a piece commemorating Persian mystic and poet Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi.

Iran’s programs marking Rumi’s 800th birth anniversary were brought to a close with the celebration “500 Days with Molana” on December 19th at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall.

Pondering on the poems of the great Iranian poet, Jalaleddin Mohammad Rumi, known as Molana, one realizes that Molana contained in himself all the characteristic of humanity, said Mehdi Nabizadeh.

The Selçuk University paid tribute to Iranian vocalist Shahram Nazeri by appointing him as honorary head of its Rumi research center in Konya on December 15.

A group of Iranian and Norwegian musicians is scheduled to perform a join concert in Oslo today to commemorate the Persian mystic and poet Molana Jalal ad-Din Rumi.

The Saba Art and Cultural Institute is hosting the third edition of the school book illustration exhibit

Queen Sophia of Spain watched performance of whirling dervishes in Madrid on the occasion of the 800th birthday anniversary of Mevlana. Turkish Culture & Tourism Ministry, together with Turkish Embassy in Madrid, organized the performance of whirling dervishes as UNESCO declared 2007 "Mevlana Year".

Whirling dervishes have put on a performance in Spain's capital Madrid. Before the performance, Turkey's Ambassador to Madrid Ender Arat said, “Mevlana has a character which unites continents and civilizations.” Queen Sofia of Spain also watched the Mevlevi dervishes' whirling dance performance. The queen said the performance was extraordinary and she was really impressed.

The exhibition at the Istanbul Research Institute in Tepebaşı contains 76 objects related to the Mevlevi order of mystics. It is extraordinary that these pieces from public and private collections still exist

Britain's Prince Charles is scheduled to arrive in Ankara tomorrow for a four-day visit that will also include Turkey's biggest city and its economic and cultural hub, İstanbul, as well as İzmir, on the Aegean coast, and the historic central Anatolian city of Konya.

The International Congress on the 800th birth anniversary of Molana Jalaleddin Molavi Balkhi, the renowned Iranian mystic poet, kicked off here on Sunday.