by Falun Dafa practitioner from QLD
On 7 August 2004, practitioners
from Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast areas participated
in the annual Sugar Festival in Nambour, Queensland. This is the only parade in
the Sunshine Coast area. This year there were nearly 50 floats and parade entrants
along with hundreds of spectators. Our grand float was preceded by a stunning
banner with the golden words – Falun Dafa – glittering in the sunshine. Next came
our Waist Drum Troupe, including both Western and Chinese male and female practitioners
playing traditional Chinese waist drums. The front and sides of our float were
beautifully decorated with colourful banners reading “Truthfulness, Compassion
and Tolerance”. On our float, four practitioners demonstrated the Falun Gong
standing exercises, as well as two young female practitioners demonstrating the
sitting meditation.
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Our
eye-catching float was followed by young practitioners presenting beautiful, traditional
Chinese dancing under a rainbow of balloon. Behind a grand banner which read ‘Falun
Dafa Around the World’, practitioners carried flags from different countries and
many wore a variety of national costumes from around the world, representing countries
where Falun Dafa is now practised. Little practitioners with happy faces proudly
walked in the parade and some handed out flyers. Onlookers were visibly touched
by our presentation and after the parade; the organisers invited local practitioners
up to the Main Stage where the local State MP, Mr Peter Wellington, presented
us with a trophy for ‘Best Float’.
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The
parade concluded in a local park where we had already set up an information stall
together with a presentation of Falun Gong exercises for the gathering crowd.
People were also invited to fold a lotus flower at our ‘Petals of Peace’ table
and display. At the same time, across the park on the large ground stage, the
practitioners displayed the Falun Gong exercises as well as several beautiful
Chinese dances. Whilst this display was going on, the singing ensemble, ‘One World’,
consisting of five Western practitioners, was invited to the Main Stage to sing.
The first moving song, “Call to Heart”, reflects the hope from the countless
thousands of good-hearted people who believe in ‘Truthfulness, Compassion and
Tolerance’ and those who are facing the ongoing persecution under Jiang’s regime
in China. The second song, “Historical Times”, is a song about this
unique period of time that we are now in and that this precious period of time
is something to be celebrated. Three young practitioners danced gracefully, complementing
the theme of the song.
Many people requested Falun Dafa introductory flyers
as they watched the exercise demonstrations and other Falun Dafa activities and
asked for more details from practitioners. The splendour of Falun Dafa was offered
throughout the day by our various artistic presentations and the hearts of many
were indeed touched.
Posting date: 12/Aug/2004
Original article date:
11/Aug/2004
Category: Events
