Falun Gong practitioners participated in the annual Cultural Festival Parade of Bielefeld on June 2, 2012. The Divine Land Marching Band, and the flotilla and Fan Dance Teams were cheerfully welcomed by one hundred thousand spectators. Wherever the Falun Gong contingent went, there was non-stop applause.
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| This was the first time the European Divine Land Marching Band participated in the Cultural Festival Parade of Bielefeld |
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| Many people enjoyed the traditional Chinese fan dance |
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| Demonstrating the Falun gong meditation exercise |
Bielefeld is a city of universities in the North Rhine-Westphalia area of Germany. In recent years, the number of Chinese oversea students has increased, and local Falun Gong practitioners applied to attend the 16th Cultural Festival Parade in order to display the goodness of Falun Dafa and raise awareness about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution. The local sponsor understood that Falun Gong practitioners wanted to present the values of Truthfulness- Compassion-Forbearance and to utilize peaceful and rational means to oppose the persecution. He said repeatedly, “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance are exactly what we want.”
On a lovely day with bright sunshine and a gentle breezes, local residents had already occupied good locations along the path of the parade. They either left a few chairs in the first row by the pavement, or gathered in small groups of two or three to have a drink and a chat while waiting. At two o’clock in the afternoon, the parade started from Melanchton Street and went through Bielefeld’s old and new town. The two sides of the road were crowded with people. The European Divine Land Marching Band wore traditional costumes in a mosaic of blue and white, followed by the golden yellow float with practitioners’ slow gentle exercises being demonstrated on them. The Fan Dance Team was in pink dresses, beautiful and pure, waving their silk fans, which refreshed the spectators. At the rear of the contingent one could read large banners exposing the CCP’s organ harvesting from living Falun Gong practitioners.
This was the first time people had seen the Divine Land Marching Band, and they appreciated the band’s traditional costumes and performances. It was the first time for some to learn that Falun Gong practitioners were persecuted, and they were shocked to learn of the CCP’s criminal activities in the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners.
Following are some remarks from spectators:
“Fan dance is excellent, exquisite.”
“I like the band’s costumes so much, especially the blue colours.”
“The colours are really beautiful, extraordinary, this is the first time I’ve seen such a group display. I know the CCP is afraid and would suppress any spiritual groups. I lived in a communist country before, and I can imagine what’s going on in China.”
“Since the CCP took power, they have been eliminating the roots of all the traditions, haven’t they?”
“Their songs make me feel so comfortable.”
“They seem very calm inside, I can feel their tranquillity.”
A Western lady after learning of the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong said, “Harvesting live organs, it’s so horrific.”
A Western woman in her 30s saw the banner exposing the CCP’s live organs harvesting. In the beginning she couldn’t comprehend why such a beautiful parade would show such horrifying images. After learning that this modern world tragedy is ongoing under the CCP’s control, she took a deep breath, paused, and said, “It is right to let everyone know the truth, to let everyone know.”
“I like this group, because……they emphasize Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.”
“I like the Falun Gong group. They make me calm and contemplate, especially the three words: Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance. I really like it. I also like to watch their sitting meditation.” After this gentleman further understood what Falun Gong is about, he repeatedly gave thanks. “I feel (the values) they profess are good. We need traditional values. People never stop chasing after desires, but in the end they find themselves not even knowing what they are chasing.”
An elderly gentleman said after learning the truth, “The public should really be aware of what the CCP has done. The Chinese Communist regime going against and suppressing dissidents-- such things should be exposed more.”
“Their calmness has moved me deeply, it’s so harmonious.”
“I like the Falun Gong group, what they have expressed makes people think.”
“This is the first time I have seen the Divine Land Marching Band. They are so powerful, so colourful. We were just asking what kind of band it is, we really want to know.”
“This is the first time seeing I've seen this band. It’s remarkable, it’s great.
“We do not just want to see beautiful things, but the evil that’s going on, hideous things, we also want to understand.”
“I was very touched. They were so focused, it makes my spirit and soul cheerful. The dancing was so beautiful.”
A lady learned the truth about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong and said, “I’m glad I learned so much today, especially the issues about China and human rights. It’s great to express their resistance against the persecution in such a beautiful way.”
A young lad was next to a practitioner who held a banner and he followed him through a few streets. When the parade stopped, he asked: “Your banner says Falun Dafa—a path of cultivating both mind and body. Where can I learn it?”
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