(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners from Washington State in the U.S. and Vancouver, Canada, participated in the Marysville Strawberry Festival Parade in North Seattle on June 17, 2023. They had a waist drum team and demonstrated the five Falun Dafa exercises on a beautifully decorated float. They were greeted with applause and some spectators shouted, “Thank you” in English or Chinese.
They participated in the Strawberry Festival Parade for the first time last year and won an award. The event organiser once again invited them to participate. This year, along with the waist drum team, banner section, and exercise demonstrations, they added a float. The float was covered in small lotus flowers and clouds and practitioners wearing yellow clothing or fairy costumes demonstrated Falun Dafa’s five sets of exercises.
Many people along the route imitated their exercise movements. As practitioners completed each exercise, they put their hands together and people followed them, put their palms together, and returned the gesture.
The waist drum team performed many pieces such as Falun Dafa Is Good, Joyous Celebration, and March for the New China. After every song, spectators warmly applauded or cheered them. Many people shouted, “Thank you!” or “Good job!” in English or Chinese. Some people put their hands together and bowed as the practitioners passed.
When the Falun Dafa team passed by the rostrum, the emcee introduced them: “Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, is a cultivation method that can improve one’s physical and mental health. Its cultivation includes exercise movements and meditation and it guides people to improve in their moral integrity based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance. The practice originated in China and now people in more than a hundred countries and regions all over the world practice Falun Dafa. The classes are free of charge. If you would like to find out more about Falun Dafa, please visit https://www.falundafa.org”.
Hope You Come Back Next Year
After the event organiser heard that some of the practitioners who participated in the parade were from Canada, she said, “Oh my goodness! Thank you all for participating in the Strawberry Festival! I love you all! I hope that all of you can come back next year!”
Practitioners participate in local summer parades and celebrations in many cities in the greater Seattle area every year. Many people thus have a good impression of Falun Dafa and its practitioners. Some residents tell them excitedly that they have seen them in parades before and they really like the peace and goodness that Falun Dafa brings.
This May, Jon Nehring, the mayor of Marysville issued a commendation and announced May 13, 2023 as Falun Dafa Day in Marysville.
Chinese version available
(Clearwisdom)