(Minghui.org) On August 13, 2023, the Chinese waist drum team formed by Falun Gong practitioners was invited to participate in the grand carnival held in Skegness, a seaside town in Lincolnshire, UK. People loved the performances and Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Mayor Pete Barry gave practitioners an award and applauded them for spreading the “power of good.”
Practitioners took part in the Skegness Carnival on August 13, 2023. Mayor Pete Barry presented practitioners with an award and had his photo taken with them.
Skegness is the largest seaside resort in the East Lindsey District of Lincolnshire, England. It is known for its beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see and popular seaside attractions. Every year, the area draws tourists of all age groups, and the colorful carnival events are well-loved.
This year, the theme of the carnival parade was fairy tales, which symbolized a return to tradition. The city’s government departments, charity organizations, clubs and trade groups took part in the parade with a colorful array of floats including vintage cars, military bands, African dance groups, circus acrobatics and performances by world renowned dance troupes. There were also floats featuring fairy tale characters such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as well as the Little Mermaid.
The Chinese waist drum team formed by Falun Gong practitioners was warmly received by spectators in the parade.
Practitioners were awarded second place for the Best Walking Display 2023.
The carnival parade started at 1 p.m, and passed through busy commercial areas, seaside landmarks including the Bell Tower, and the grand parade street. The streets were lined with tens of thousands of spectators and the air was filled with an atmosphere of joy and excitement. Dressed in bright yellow traditional Chinese costumes, the waist drummers performed the songs, “Falun Dafa Is Great” and “Festive.” They marched in orderly steps and their movements were lively. One could hear shouts from the spectators: “Amazing!” “Spectacular!” and “Great!” as the drummers passed by.
Many people traveled in from other areas to enjoy the popular festival. Some came from as far away as Ireland on holiday. For many, it was the first time they saw a traditional Chinese waist drum performance. Practitioners’ cheerful demeanor and their energetic performances left a deep impression. Spectators on both sides of the street received information about Falun Dafa.
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Good
Yvonne Elms, an assistant teacher, praised the waist drum team for bringing a calm atmosphere to the event. She said, “The members had smiles on their faces, bright like the sun. Your belief in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. We have similar values in our school. People agree with these traditional moral precepts, we need them in our lives. I see the words, ‘Falun Dafa is good, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good,’ written on the car float as well.” She gave practitioners a thumbs up to express her admiration.
The parade finished at Tower Garden where the organizers set up kids’ entertainment and many stalls for vendors and local organizations. This year, practitioners were given a free stall after organizers saw the waist drum team’s outstanding performance last year. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises on the lawn, taught people the exercise movements, and collected signatures on a petition to call for an end to the persecution in China.
Event-goers came to the Falun Dafa information booth to find out more about the mind and body practice. They also praised practitioners’ efforts to promote the peaceful meditation exercises.
Several students stopped to watch practitioners meditate. They said they loved the exercise music and some of them wanted to give the exercises a try. Practitioners showed them how to do the exercises and told them more about Falun Dafa.
Interested in Learning Falun Dafa
Sandra moved to Skegness from London three years ago. She said, “I loved the waist drum performance. They were unique, I saw them last year. Forbearance is very important among the three principles: Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. We need to have a tranquil mindset.”
Sandra added, “I learned to meditate 15 years ago, and I’d like to meditate again. I am rather interested in learning Falun Dafa because it focuses on improving moral character. I too want to nurture a good state of mind. I think people will benefit from learning Falun Dafa and the meditation exercises.”
Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Helps People Become Good
Emma Turner is a fashion designer who used to do yoga. She saw practitioners doing the exercises and thought they were full of energy. She was interested in learning Falun Dafa.
Emma said, “The moral standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance can help people be good and peaceful. It should not be prohibited [in China].”
Organ Harvesting by the CCP Cannot Be Condoned
Jennie loved the music performed by the waist drum team. She thought that such a peaceful group should not be persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
She said, “The moral standards of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are good values, one hundred percent. Persecuting people for their faith is terrible, and the organ harvesting by the CCP is unpardonable.” Jennie was also worried about the situation of children in China because the CCP could possibly take their organs and sell them.
The Skegness Carnival concluded at 4 p.m. Through the waist drum performance and talking to people throughout the day, practitioners were able to share the beautiful moral values taught by Falun Dafa – Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance – to local residents. At the same time, they raised awareness of the persecution in China and asked that people help stop the atrocities.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa and Why Is the CCP Persecuting It?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries and regions worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings, which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance, and have learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.
Jiang Zemin, former head of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), perceived the spiritual discipline’s growing popularity as a threat to the CCP’s atheistic ideology and on July 20, 1999, he issued an order to eradicate the practice.
Under Jiang’s personal direction, the CCP established the 610 Office, an extralegal security organization with the power to override the police and judicial systems and whose sole function is to carry out the persecution of Falun Dafa.
Minghui.org has confirmed the deaths of thousands of practitioners as a result of the persecution over the past 24 years, though due to the difficulty in getting information out of China, the actual number is believed to be much higher. Countless practitioners have been imprisoned and tortured for their faith.
There is concrete evidence that the CCP sanctions the harvesting of organs from detained practitioners, who are murdered to supply China’s organ transplant industry.
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