The musicians play as the semazenbashi approaches the sheikh; bows to him with right foot over the left and arms crossed at the shoulders; kisses the right hand of the sheikh, then steps away backwards to a position five feet from the post, in order to direct the sema.
Each dervish then approaches the sheikh in the same manner: bowing to the sheikh and kissing his right hand. The sheikh kisses the dervish’s sikke, then the dervish bows again and turns toward the semazenbashi for silent instruction.