(Minghui.org) The International Band Festival in Chiayi City, Taiwan welcomed the Divine Marching Band for the third consecutive year. The opening parade of the festival brought cheers to spectators on December 21, 2013.
The band performed a rich program composed of music by Falun Gong practitioners, Christmas carols and Chinese folk music. The selection included “Falun Dafa Is Good,” “Buddha Mercy Sacred Music,” “Deliver the Treasure,” “Triumphant Return,” and “Falun King,” and folk music such as “Tall, Green Mountains,” and “Plum.” The crowds cheered along with the music.
When the band marched toward the city government along the central circle, waves of applause broke out. One resident commented, “This one marches the most uniformly among all the bands.” “After listening to their performance, my heart has calmed down,” said another.
In Chiayi Stadium, destination of the parade, the band drew another round of warm applause and praise when passing by the center stage.
Divine Land Marching Band of Taiwan is often invited to perform at large events, including the National Fire Fighters' Competition, the Taiwan National Games, and the celebration of International Volunteers Day. The band has also performed six times at major festival celebrations in India.
The band's director stated that their participation was meant to display the beauty of Falun Dafa to Chiayi residents, and bring Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to the world.
Divine Marching Band of Taiwan draws praise from spectators at the 2013 Chiayi International Band Festival
The Chiayi International Band Festival started in 1993. Over the past 20 years, it has grown into a trademark musical festival of Taiwan. This year, over 100 domestic and international bands performed in the parade, which opened this annual festivity.
With 200-strong members, Divine Marching Band of Taiwan displayed its unique majesty, marching nearly three kilometers from Zhong Shan Road to Chiayi Stadium. Spectators were excited to see the band's spectacular performance.
Zhong Shan Road (named after Dr. Sun Yat-sen, founding father of the Nationalist China) is the main business street in Chiayi City, which is also the city's venue of social and cultural activities. In this year's appearance, four Divine Marching Band members wore Christmas hats, each bearing one of the four Chinese characters of Falun Dafa.
The parade started from Zhong Shan Road, went through Wu Fong N. Road, Min Zu Road, Qi Ming Road, Ti Yu Road, and ended at Chiayi Stadium. Where Divine Marching Band passed, crowds packed the street. Some had to stand on chairs to take pictures of the band.
Band members explained that the band is entirely composed of Falun Dafa practitioners, who take Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance as their guide for cultivation. They gave a brief introduction to Falun Gong. Falun Dafa (also called Falun Gong) was introduced into Taiwan in 1995.
With outstanding health improvement effects, the principles of “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance,” and preserving the best of tradition and culture, the practice now has a several hundred thousand practitioners in Taiwan. Practitioners are from all walks of life, including professors, attorneys, physicians, school principals, clerks at government agencies, scientists, among others. They have spread Falun Gong through word of mouth after experiencing its magnificence.
