(Clearwisdom.net) The 33rd Flower Festival in Hiroshima was held from May 3 to 5. For the eighth time, Falun Gong practitioners were invited by the organizers to perform at the festival.
The theme of the festival this year was "Sunshine, Flower and Light of Peace." Tourists from all over Japan and the world came to the festival. The organizers arranged more than 20 performances at 70 spots.
The opening of the festival was a large scale parade. 7,400 people representing 77 groups participated in the parade, and 635,000 people watched.
The parade
Chinese people talking to practitioners and asking for detailed information about Falun Gong.
The parade started at 1:40 in the afternoon. Falun Gong practitioners' entry consisted of 180 members and five teams: the Divine Land Marching Band, Celestial Maidens' dance team, a float, an exercise demonstration team, and a waist drum team.
Their performances were warmly welcomed by the spectators. Children especially loved the lion dance with the waist drums. The host of the parade briefly introduced Falun Dafa to the spectators.
The Divine Land Marching Band
The Celestial Maidens' dance team
The waist drum team
At night, practitioners were invited to perform on the stage. The band played several songs, young practitioners performed traditional Chinese dances, and practitioners demonstrated the exercises. Many tourists watched. The host, again, introduced Falun Dafa and invited spectators to try the practice.
Demonstrating the exercises
Between the parade and the performances on the stage, practitioners clarified the truth and demonstrated the exercises in the Peace Park. Many tourists had their photos taken with practitioners, especially the Celestial Maidens dressed in the traditional Chinese costumes.
Some Chinese people also observed the practitioners' activities. It seemed that they had never seen such a large scale Falun Gong demonstration. One of them was a little confused, and his friend told him, "You are not in China. This is a free country, and Falun Gong practitioners can practice here." Many Chinese people had their photos taken with practitioners. First they took pictures of practitioners, then they joined the practitioners and had their photos taken with them.
Four Chinese tourists having their photos taken with practitioners.
After the photo-taking, practitioners gave the Chinese tourists truth-clarifying materials. Some of them said that they had already heard about the movement to "Quit the Chinese Communist Party," and some of them had already quit. Others asked for detailed information about Falun Gong; they wanted to read the Falun Gong books and learn the exercises.
Chinese people saw practitioners' activities in previous years, but not very many wanted to get close to practitioners and talk to them. This year, practitioners noticed that more and more Chinese were willing to get closer to practitioners, talk to them, learn the truth, and show their respect to Falun Gong.
