(Minghui.org) Prague, the capital city of Czech Republic, is filled with amazing architecture, gardens, and culture. On the weekend of June 8 and 9, 2024, many visitors to Prague saw Falun Dafa practitioners’ parades and performances in the city. People stopped and watched, and took photos. Quite a few said they planned to find out more about Falun Dafa.
On a sunny June 8, many tourists gathered at Hradcany Square to visit Prague Castle and watch the changing of the guards. In contrast to the hustle and bustle at the Castle, a group of Falun Dafa practitioners dressed in yellow shirts quietly meditated to soothing music on a corner of the square.
Falun Dafa practitioners gathered at Hradcany Square and demonstrated the Falun Dafa exercises.
Practitioners demonstrate the exercises on Hradcany Square, their slow and graceful movements drawing the attention of many people.
Many tourists were curious and said they wished to learn more about Falun Dafa as practitioners quietly did the exercises. They read the posters and banners on display, while practitioners handed out fliers with information about the practice and the ongoing persecution in China.
Dafa Gives People Genuine Freedom
Diane Brace was about to tour Prague Castle, but she stopped and read the practitioners’ posters. She decided to sign the petition to support the efforts to end the ongoing persecution in China. A practitioner told her that Falun Dafa teaches people to follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, and allows them to achieve mental and physical wellbeing. “This is the only path we should take,” Diane said. “We should be like [Dafa practitioners] and focus on our souls and spirits and on how to be a good person, instead of letting the chaos in life bother us.”
As she watched the practitioners meditate, Diane observed, “They seem very focused. The power of being able to stay focused is strong and shouldn’t be underestimated. Practitioners who meditate have free thoughts and spirits. In this materialistic world, [Falun Dafa] is a way to let people be genuinely free, and be what they really are.”
Parade Creates Unique Scene in Prague
At noon, the practitioners prepared to hold a parade through the Prague city center. A number of people talked to practitioners and observed them as they got ready. The Tian Guo Marching Band, dressed in blue and white, led the parade.
The parade started out from the Hradcany Square at noon on Saturday June 8, 2024.
Following the band was a large model of Zhuan Falun the main book of Falun Dafa’s teachings. The book has been translated into over 40 languages, and can be downloaded for free from falundafa.org. Following the book model were practitioners demonstrating the exercises, while another group carried banners exposing the 25-year-long persecution in China. There was also a Dragon Dance and Lion Dance to delight spectators, and the lively Waist Drum Team brought up the end of the procession.
The parade passes by Charles Bridge in Prague.
The parade stepped off from Hradcany Square, passed by Charles Bridge, and eventually reached Old Town Square where practitioners gave a variety of performances. Many tourists had their photos taken with the musicians in the Tian Guo Marching Band, the Zhuan Falun book model, and the banners with golden Chinese characters for “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.”
Practicing Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance Makes the World a Better Place
A group of American tourists on their way to Prague Castle watched the parade. A woman said, “I’m enjoying the parade. It allows me to learn something new, which is great.” When she heard that Falun Dafa practitioners follow the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, she said, “Those are very good values. I believe that everyone should practice such values, and it will make the world a better place.”
To Better Understand the Purpose of Life
The parade stopped briefly near Charles Bridge, where practitioners introduced the practice to the public and told people about the brutal persecution in China.
Marek Nutta saw the parade from Charles Bridge. This was the first time he’d heard about Falun Dafa and saw a dancing Chinese dragon. “For me this is a new and wonderful experience. [The parade] lets the public know about the persecution in China,” he said.
When told about Falun Dafa’s principles, Marek agreed that they are very important for modern society. “Things are different now,” he said. “People no longer appreciate each other. Instead, they spend all of their time on social media. If we can practice Falun Dafa, we can better understand ourselves, spend more time with ourselves, and better understand the purpose of life. I think practicing Falun Dafa is a great idea.”
Music Gives a Feeling of Hope
The Tian Guo Marching Band led the parade.
The parade circled through the city of Prague again in the evening.
The Falun Dafa parade created a unique and beautiful scene in Prague.
After a short break, the parade left Old Town Square and proceeded through the city of Prague again. In the narrow stone alleyways and large business streets, many passersby were drawn to the parade. They accepted the practitioners’ fliers and immediately started reading them. Many people signed the petition to support practitioners’ efforts to end the persecution.
The Tian Guo Marching Band, Waist Drum Team, Dragon Dancers and Lion Dancers performed on June 8 and 9, 2024 at Old Town Square.
Tourists enjoyed the performance and took photos.
Richard, an engineer from the U.S., was attracted to the music performed by the Tian Guo Marching Band on Old Town Square on Sunday June 9. He read the posters about the practice and the ongoing persecution. After signing the petition, Richard said, “The music inspires me and gives me a feeling of hope. When I learned that [Falun Dafa] practitioners are persecuted because they practice Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance, I was saddened. It’s an obvious mistake to persecute this group of people. However, I can still feel hope from [the Tian Guo Marching Band’s] music.”
Before he left, Richard told practitioners, “I’m sorry that you are going through this, and I wish you all the best.”
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