By a practitioner from Australia
(Clearwisdom.net) On October 20, 2007, Falun Gong practitioners from
Sydney took part in the Granny Smith Festival Parade in Eastwood for the seventh
time. Practitioners in parade Practitioners perform The Granny Smith Festival is one of the biggest events of its kind in north
Sydney, drawing more than 80 thousand people every year. It is named after early
immigrant Granny Smith, who contributed a lot to the community. This was the 21st
annual festival. Forty groups from different cultures attended the parade. When the Dafa
practitioners' group passed by the stage, the host introduced some teachings and
principles of Falun Gong to the spectators. Congressmen and the Australian Prime
Minister watched the parade and waved to practitioners. The Divine Land Marching Band led the group. Practitioners demonstrated the
exercises and performed traditional Chinese dances and played waist drums. The
float was decorated with a banner reading
"Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance," as well as with apples and
lotus flowers. After the parade, Ms. Su said to the Australian Prime Minister, "Please
help to stop the persecution of Falun Gong," and her son gave him a paper
lotus flower and Falun Gong truth-clarifying materials. Many Chinese and Westerners came up to practitioners after the parade and
praised their performances. After the parade, the event organizers arranged stage performances. During
their 15 minute segment, practitioners performed a lotus flower dance with music
they composed, and demonstrated the Falun Gong exercises in Tang Dynasty style
costumes. The spectators warmly welcomed the performances and praised them. The organizers told practitioners that their performances were excellent and
asked them to come again next year. One of the spectators said, "It was
very touching. I don't know why, but I cannot hold back my tears. I want to
learn the exercises. Please tell me how to start." Practitioners passed out a lot of materials, and many people asked for more
details about Falun Gong. Some groups invited practitioners to give seminars for
them.
Posting date: 10/26/2007
Original article date: 10/26/2007
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://www.minghui.org/mh/articles/2007/10/23/165099.html