(Minghui.org) By the time the 2013 Taiwan Lantern Festival concluded on March 10, organizers estimated about 12 million people had attended the spectacular event. Among the most popular of the giant lanterns on display at the festival was the Fa Boat lantern presented by Falun Dafa practitioners.
The Lantern Festival is an annual holiday celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month of the Chinese calendar. It marks the end of lunar New Year celebrations. The occasion is a time of much ritual and public festivities. The Taiwan Lantern Festival described here is a major national fair which this year ran for two weeks from February 24 through March 10, 2013.
A large crowd of festival-goers gathered near the Falun Dafa Fa Boat lantern on the last two days of the festival, taking in both the lantern itself and the variety of performances presented on stage. Practitioners demonstrated the exercises of Falun Dafa, and the Divine Land Marching Band and Waist Drummers both gave performances. Practitioners also showcased traditional Chinese dance and Han couture.
The Waist Drummers perform for the crowd
The Divine Land Marching Band and the Waist Drummers were both invited to participate in the Taiwan Lantern Festival. Once the marching band began to play, people gathered around to take pictures and film videos. There was much applause, and some spectators exclaimed “What a magnificent group!”
The Divine Land Marching Band performs
Marching Band Member Credits Falun Dafa with Stamina to Perform
Ms. Xu Yuemei is a member of the Divine Land Marching Band. She’s been a Falun Dafa practitioner for ten years. “I could not be playing music now had it not been for Falun Dafa,” said Ms. Xu.
Ten years ago Ms. Xu had a chronic intestinal ulcer which prevented her from getting enough nutrients. She was malnourished and anemic, and had an immune system disorder. She could not urinate for ten days and a doctor warned that she might be facing dialysis and heart surgery.
One of Ms. Xu’s coworkers introduced Falun Dafa to her and once she began to practice, her mental and physical condition significantly improved. She said she was “very, very grateful to Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.”
Ms. Xu hasn't missed any performances since joining the Divine Land Marching Band. “The only reason I have the stamina to play this instrument is because I practice Falun Dafa, and I am using this instrument as a testimony of my own health improvement, to show others the benefits of the practice,” said Ms. Xu.
Band Leader: “The Principles Lead Me in the Right Direction”
Conductor of the Divine Land Marching Band, Liu Yucheng (front)
Mr. Liu Yucheng is the conductor of the Divine Land Marching Band. He is also a PhD candidate in the Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering of Taiwan Tech. “Everyone here has benefited from the practice and wants others to learn about Falun Dafa because they truly believe that it is just so good,” said Mr. Liu.
Mr. Liu began to practice eight years ago because of his poor health. He is now completely healthy. However, above and beyond improved health, he said, “The principles, Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, guide me in the right direction. I am able to calmly face any pressure or problems I encounter.”
Mr. Liu believes that a lot of the news and information in society nowadays confuses people and prevents them from distinguishing right from wrong. “The practice allows me to stay on the right path. It is of great help when teaching children about virtue and morality.”
The Whole Family Practices Falun Dafa
Lin Jiayi, her husband and parents are all Falun Dafa practitioners
Ms. Lin Jiayi performs with the Waist Drummers and has been a practitioner for 15 years. “I bring happiness to the spectators when I drum and I receive warm reactions from them. This interaction allows them to know that Falun Dafa is good,” said Ms. Lin.
Mr. Lin began practicing Falun Dafa when she was in high school. Her parents and husband are also practitioners. Conflicts within the family are few because everyone is able to follow the teachings of Falun Dafa to look within to find his or her own shortcomings.
Life Becomes More Meaningful
Ms. Liu Yueqian is 55 years old. She had surgery two years ago and started to practice Falun Dafa when one of her friends gave her a copy of Zhuan Falun. She was impressed with the practice because, “I'm now able to walk with ease and I have heaps of energy. I've become very optimistic and take a more enthusiastic approach to life.”
Ms. Ye Worked Diligently on the Lantern
Ms. Ye, making part of the lantern
Ms. Ye is 66 years old. She has been working with other practitioners to make the giant lantern every day since November 2012. “I had bone spurs before I practiced Falun Dafa. I took so many different types of medicine but to no avail. I became healthy after I began practicing Falun Dafa and it is my wish for more people to learn this wonderful practice,” said Ms.Ye.
Ms. Ye came to the exhibition area to help out every day during the festival. She was very pleased with the reaction, “Many of my relatives and friends came. They all thought the Fa Boat was brilliant and were amazed by it.”
Capturing the Eternal Moment
Ms. Li works in the medicinal service business. She learned the practice ten years ago and picked up photography in order to capture the moments of practitioners' activities.
The Fa Boat is 60-ft long, 15-ft wide, and four floors high. Over 60 practitioners spent seven months making it, from developing the design, to transportation, and assembly. Ms. Li recorded many moments of the Fa Boat's construction. “It was a quiet and warm environment. Everyone was enjoying it and working hard. They just quietly gave their time. It was truly selfless devotion,” said Ms. Li.
“One particular elderly practitioner was very focused as he worked. The things he made were so touching. He was the same when he assembled the light bulbs. What he did looked so professional. Incredible!” said Ms. Li.
A practitioner works on the lantern
Ms. Li said that no one complained when things did not go well and their work had to be dissembled and redone. “No one even frowned.”
Regarding the influence Falun Dafa has had on her, Ms. Li said, “I learned what orthodox aesthetics is. Each time I take a photo, it is my responsibility to convey the meaning of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I want to spread the good and kind message of Falun Dafa through my work.”
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