(Minghui.org) The Niagara Grape and Wine Festival is Canada’s largest and oldest wine festival, held every September in the Niagara Falls region. The event features wine tasting, food stalls, and various entertainment, and attracts people from all parts of Canada to come enjoy the area’s wine culture and history.
This year, the festival was held in the St. Catharines city center on September 28, 2024. Falun Dafa practitioners’ Tian Guo Marching Band and waist drum team were invited to take part in the parade, and were a big hit with spectators.
The Tian Guo Marching Band and waist drum team participated in the Grape and Wine Festival parade in Ontario.
As practitioners marched past the two groups of judges, all the judges gave full marks for the band’s and waist drum team’s performances. One of the judges even turned the number 8 horizontally, which the symbol for infinity, and waved it at the band members. He exclaimed, “Your performance is spectacular! I love it!”
A panel of judges gave full marks to the Tian Guo Marching Band.
Thank You for Bringing the Beauty of Dafa
Rob and his best friend Dwayne gave the Tian Guo Marching Band a thumbs up and cheered when the group marched past. “Good job!” Rob said. “I could hear their music from afar. I truly love their music. The music is pure and has a strong impact. Everyone keeps the same pace, everything is perfect.”
When a practitioner told them that members of the band came together because of a common belief in Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, Rob said, “I totally agree with your values. Dwayne and I became best friends because both of us are honest people. At the same time, my understanding of forbearance is not to blame others easily, and be brave enough to admit when you are wrong.”
Dwayne added, “Compassion is what all of us need. We need to treat the people around us with kindness. That way, we can avoid unnecessary strife and war.”
When they learned that practitioners drove from Toronto to Niagara Falls that morning to participate in the parade, they said, “Thank you for bringing such amazing music and values to this place. We hope you can come more often!”
Niagara Residents Agree With Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance
Alejandra from Colombia and her family took a photo with the Tian Guo Marching Band when they saw them rehearsing. She said, “I love their music. Everyone plays their instruments well—they are very focused. This brings an interesting note to the music. And they are all dressed neatly. It’s great! It deeply impressed me.”
Alejandra also agreed with Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. She said, “If everyone lives by these three words, they will be better people. These three words have important meaning in society. We need them. In particular, compassion. If we have empathy for one another, the world will definitely become better.”
Lindsay said she loved the music performed by the Tian Guo Marching Band.
Lindsay took out her mobile phone and photographed the Tian Guo Marching Band. She said, “Their performance is great! I love their music.” She also said she saw practitioners holding banners with the words “Falun Dafa” in last year’s parade.
A practitioner explained that Falun Dafa is a mind and body practice made up of five sets of exercises and teachings based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. Lindsay said she agreed with these values.
Jocelyn said the Tian Guo Marching Band is one of her favorite bands.
Jocelyn said she’s seen the Tian Guo Marching Band’s performances before. “I saw them in previous parades,” she said. “I’ve always love this band. There are so many people in the band – it’s really impressive. They are very orderly and talented.”
She also expressed her understanding of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. “Truthfulness, I think this means being truthful to oneself and others, truly understanding which qualities you should cherish, what is your true self,” she explained. “Forbearance is to be patient. Overall, I agree with Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance. You must think of others and yourself, pay attention to your thoughts and body. If everyone followed these three words, they would be happier and kinder to one another.”
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