(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners participated in the 23rd annual Pune Book Fair, which took place from October 30 to November 2, 2025. This event is Western India’s largest book, culture, and education fair, and was organized by the Expo Centre with the support of the Education Department of the Government of Maharashtra and the Suryadatta Group of Institutes.
A total of ten Pune-based Falun Dafa practitioners participated, running a dedicated booth at the event to introduce the Falun Dafa cultivation practice to visitors. Practitioners displayed copies of Falun Gong and Zhuan Falun—the two main books of the practice’s teachings—in Hindi, English, and the local Marathi language at the booth.
Practitioners also spread awareness about the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) ongoing persecution in China, which includes arbitrary imprisonment, torture, and even forced organ harvesting from persecuted Falun Dafa practitioners.
Falun Dafa practitioners at the Pune Book Fair.
Visitors at the Falun Dafa booth at the Pune Book Fair.
Practitioners collected signatures on a petition issued by Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH). Many visitors were visibly shocked to learn about the CCP’s forced organ harvesting of prisoners of conscience, and enthusiastically supported the petition.
Visitors sign the DAFOH petition at the Falun Dafa booth during the Pune Book Fair.
A member of the media takes footage of the Falun Dafa booth at the Pune Book Fair.
Many visitors stopped by the Falun Gong booth to look and inquire further. Practitioners also had the opportunity to meet with several eminent personalities, including renowned authors, an Air Force group captain, scholars of literature, professors, and theater and radio artists. They all expressed great appreciation for practitioner’s efforts to introduce the practice without seeking any personal gain.
Introducing Falun Dafa on the Main Stage
The various programs, talk shows, and meet-the-author events held during the book fair provided an excellent opportunity for practitioners to connect with many people, including well-known personalities, and introduce them to Falun Dafa.
Practitioners were invited to introduce Falun Dafa on the fair’s main stage. Following the presentation, the organizers allowed practitioners to speak with the audience about the practice. Several poets in attendance expressed genuine interest in learning more about Falun Dafa. Practitioners had the opportunity to speak with each of them individually and provide a brief introduction about the practice.
The poets acknowledged the practitioners’ efforts and said they would visit the Dafa website to read more about Falun Dafa.
Fair Sponsor: “Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are the most-required for everyone”
Professor Dr. Sanjay Chordia (left) receives a Falun Dafa flyer from a practitioner.
The practitioners were able to meet with Dr. Sanjay Chordia, a co-sponsor of the event. He is president and chairman of the Suryadatta Group of Institutes. He expressed significant interest in Falun Dafa. “The principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance are required the most for everyone in today’s scenario,” he remarked. Dr. Chordia requested that his public relations manager meet with practitioners in person to explore the possibility of organizing a Falun Dafa practice session for their staff and students.
Chief guest Mr. Vishwas Patil (left) receives Falun Dafa material from a practitioner.
During the book fair inauguration, practitioners had the opportunity to introduce Falun Dafa to the chief guest of the fair, Vishwas Patil. Mr. Patil is a renowned Marathi author and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Practitioners briefly explained Falun Dafa to him and provided him with printed information.
Dr. Sadanand More (left) accepts a flyer from a practitioner at the Falun Dafa booth during the Pune Book Fair.
On the second day of the event, Dr. Sadanand More, another renowned Marathi writer, scholar of religious literature, and a tenth-generation descendant of Saint Tukaram, visited the Falun Dafa booth and learned about the practice. Practitioners briefly discussed Falun Dafa with him, and he acknowledged and said he appreciated practitioner’s selfless efforts in spreading such a profound practice.
Retired Police Commissioner Invites Practitioners to Teach Falun Dafa to 150 Retired Officers
Vinayakrav Jadhav (in the black vest) learned about Falun Dafa from practitioners and signed the DAFOH petition.
On the first day of the event, practitioners had a visit from Vinayakrav Jadhav, a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police, who showed significant interest in Falun Dafa. “This practice is very good,” he said. “I would like to read both the books of this practice, and we also need to introduce this practice to my fellow retired police workers. You all are doing a very good job.”
Dafa practitioners received a call from Mr. Jadhav on the last day of the fair, offering them the opportunity to present Falun Dafa to more than 150 retired police officers in Pune during the first week of December. They also received requests from two other retired police personnel groups to conduct sessions for their members later this year.
Air Force Captain: Falun Dafa Is “Much Needed for the Young Generation”
Captain Abhijit Khedkar (right) accepts a Falun Dafa flyer from a practitioner.
Indian Air Force Group Captain Abhijit Khedkar was part of one of the talk shows at the book fair. When practitioners met him in person and introduced Falun Dafa to him, he said, “I am happy to know about Falun Dafa. This is much needed for the young generation. It would be good if we could introduce the practice to the military school for girls in Pune and in the NCC (National Cadet Corps) camps that are held in winter. I am happy to help connect you with these institutes.”
Makarand Ghanekar, a retired banker and avid reader, visited the Falun Dafa stall. He mentioned that he was drawn to the beautifully decorated stall on his way to the program hall and was curious about it. After practitioners introduced Falun Dafa onstage, he came over to the booth to learn more.
Mr. Ghanekar shared, “I am an avid reader and mostly enjoy books on spirituality. I sensed a good energy at the stall and would like to read more about Falun Dafa.” He purchased a book and expressed his intention to contact practitioners to learn more about the practice.
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