(Minghui.org) The Tian Guo Marching Band, Chinese waist drum and dragon dance groups formed by Falun Dafa practitioners in Toronto participated in four Christmas parades held in Toronto’s neighboring cities and towns on weekends since mid-November, 2022.
They attended 4 parades on two weekends: the Tian Guo Marching Band participated in the Newmarket Santa Claus parade held on November 19; the band and Chinese waist drum team took part in the Milton Santa parade held on November 26 before rushing to the parade in Ajax held at 6 p.m. Meanwhile the dragon dance team participated in the Markham Santa parade held on the same day at 11 a.m.
The Tian Guo Marching Band performed at the Newmarket Santa Claus parade held on November 19, 2022.
The Tian Guo Marching Band and Chinese waist drum team participated in the Milton Santa parade held on November 26, 2022 at 1:30 p.m.
The Tian Guo Marching Band and Chinese waist drum team participated in the Ajax Santa Parade held on November 26, 2022 at 6 p.m.
The dragon dance team participated in the Markham Santa parade held on November 26, 2022 at 11 a.m.
Parade Organizer Specially Invites Practitioners
For many years, the organizers of the Newmarket Santa Claus parade invited the Tian Guo Marching Band to attend the event. Preparations for the parade resumed after the COVID pandemic restrictions were eased, and they invited practitioners to participate.
Darlene, who organized the parade this year, said, “We invited the Tian Guo Marching Band again. I went to the website once again after the band accepted the invitation. This time, we arranged for the band to be the finale because we know many people love the Falun Dafa group.”
Bill Deline who coordinated the Milton Santa Parade began contacting practitioners on January 18, 2022, inviting them to perform in the parade. He sent a reminder every month. According to Danielle, who coordinated the parades this year, Bill told her delightedly he was relieved after she confirmed the invitation.
Bill sent an email at once after the parade: “The parade today was amazing and the weather was perfect. Your group was excellent as usual.” He also invited practitioners to attend the music parade held in summer as well as the Christmas parade next year.
Chinese Couple: It Was Powerful to Watch the Tian Guo Marching Band
Mr. Chen and his wife Ms. Liu have lived in Canada for nearly two decades. As their child took part in the Scouts group in the parade, they came to Ajax to watch the celebrations.
When the Chinese waist drum team appeared, the first thing they saw were the golden characters “Falun Dafa Is Great” on a banner. Mr. Chen said, “I knew about Falun Dafa when I was still in China. All of them (practitioners) are good people. I always felt that those suppressed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) must be good people because [the CCP] is an evil organization. I read the Epoch Times newspaper before—this media is doing an excellent job!”
His wife added, “The Shen Yun performances by Falun Dafa practitioners are also wonderful!”
As the Tian Guo Marching Band marched past, Mr. Chen said, “I saw them perform before in Chinatown. The music they play is great and their performances are powerful.”
Practitioners explained that despite the brutal suppression in China, they did not hate the persecutors. Instead, practitioners have persisted in raising awareness of the persecution using peaceful means. Ms. Liu agreed saying, “Falun Dafa practitioners hold themselves to high standards. I heard that when they appealed for the right to practice Falun Dafa, even the ground was clean when they left. Yet the CCP chose to vilify the practice. We all know these are lies, we read the Nine Commentaries on the Chinese Communist Party.”
Mr. Chen said, “We already quit the CCP.” Ms. Liu said, “In fact, the CCP is a cult. Unfortunately, many Chinese believe its propaganda. They don’t think for themselves and were consequently deceived by it.”
Can We Learn Falun Gong in Our Small Town
Moses takes his children to the Santa Parade in Ajax every year.
Moses, a teacher, takes his children to the Santa Parade every year. He loved the music played by the Tian Guo Marching Band and their uniforms.
He had never heard of Falun Dafa before. He was very interested in learning more. He said, “This sounds wonderful. Can I learn Falun Dafa in our small town?”
He listened intently as practitioners described the persecution in China. His expression became serious. He said, “I think practitioners are great to come here to express their views in the face of this unfair treatment. I definitely hope to see things change. In particular, you simply want to practice your meditation in peace. There is nothing wrong with this.”
He asked practitioners again, “Can I learn Falun Dafa in Ajax?” Practitioners gave him a lotus flower and a website address where he can search for information on how to learn Falun Dafa. He happily took the flower and asked, “Where does the lotus flower come from?” A practitioner replied, “It is hand made by practitioners in Taiwan.” Holding the flower, he said, “I will hang it on my Christmas tree.”
You Are Truly Amazing
Miranda said she wants to live by the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance.
Miranda is a home loan consultant, and this was the first time she attended the Ajax Santa Parade. She said the uplifting beat of the music played by the Tian Guo Marching Band filled her with joy.
A practitioner explained that Falun Dafa teaches one to be kind yet practitioners are brutally tortured in China for their belief. The band’s performances are one way they use to tell people about the persecution. Miranda’s eyes shone with tears of sympathy for the plight of practitioners.
With a sigh, she said, “I think they (practitioners) are truly amazing. They stepped out for their conviction. I feel comforted. I heard about some of the scandals of the CCP but I need to know more. I think Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance is absolutely wonderful. I want to live by these principles.”
Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance Is Important in Today’s Society
Jeff (right) and his family saw the Tian Guo Marching Band at the Markham Santa parade.
Jeff works in a bank in Toronto. He took a video of the Tian Guo Marching Band and said, “This is the first time I’ve seen this band perform. They are spectacular. I’m recording it to show it to my youngest son.”
When he learned that the band was formed by Falun Dafa practitioners and the practice is based on the principles Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, he said, “That’s excellent! Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance are important in today’s society.” Before leaving, he wished practitioners a Merry Christmas.
The Music Is Great
Livi (second row, center) enjoyed the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performance during the Markham Santa parade.
Livi, one of the spectators at the Markham Santa Parade kept taking photos of the Tian Guo Marching Band. She said, “My son and his family live in Markham and the whole family came to watch the parade today. The music performed by this band is great! It’s the first time I’ve seen them perform. They are perfect!”
When Livi learned that members of the band practice Falun Dafa and strive to follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, she said that these values are correct.
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 23 years. 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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