(Clearwisdom.net) Falun Gong practitioners in Washington State participated for the first time in the Ellensburg Rodeo Parade in September 2005. Their procession was well received and highly praised by parade spectators.

Falun Gong procession

Falun Gong procession

Exercise demonstration on float

The rodeo, carrying the pioneering spirit of the west, is one of the favorite sports in the western United States. The rodeo in Ellensburg, coinciding with a fair in this mid-Washington State town, attracts many people every year. Falun Gong practitioners in western and eastern Washington State took this opportunity to introduce Falun Dafa. They brought a beautiful lotus float, a waist drum troupe, banners, photo display boards and flyers.

Parade spectators were fascinated by the float decorated with many lotus flowers, and they repeatedly praised it. A Falun Gong practitioner in beautiful Tang Dynasty costume and several young practitioners sat on the float and waved to the people. The spectators waved back, greeted practitioners and gave them the thumbs-up sign in support. One woman even pressed her hands together in front of her chest to greet practitioners, in an Eastern gesture of greeting. People were hungry for Dafa introductory materials, including children.

Falun Gong practitioners from eastern Washington stayed to introduce Falun Dafa after the parade was over. One local woman even learned the Falun Gong exercises. She liked it so much that she plans to start an exercise site in Ellensburg. She took some more materials to give to people with whom she was acquainted.

The practitioners were greatly encouraged by the warmth of the people in Ellensburg, who must have been waiting for Dafa for a long time.