(Minghui.org) A three-day cultural festival in Hamburg, Germany, began on July 14, 2017. City council member Ties Rabe gave opening remarks, and the Tian Guo Marching Band, consisting of Falun Gong practitioners, was invited to perform at the festival’s opening ceremony in front of the city hall. Falun Gong practitioners introduced the practice to the public during the festival.
City council member Rabe gives opening remarks at the cultural festival.
Event organizer Kock said that he knew about the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) persecution of Falun Gong. He stressed that everyone should have the right to express their values. He said, “We cooperated with Falun Gong practitioners four years ago. They are very pleasant and accurate. They keep their word and do as they say.” Kock also said he agrees with the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance that Falun Gong practitioners follow.
Many people came to watch the band perform and gave the practitioners a thumbs-up. Some said, “Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good. I like this. I completely support it.” “The performance is awesome. I like it very much.”
One practitioner who was distributing flyers in a high-end shopping center met a lady who asked, “Where were you last week (the G20 Summit)? We really needed you then.” She said it was horrible, with all the hatred, violence, and evilness. She wept as she spoke.
As the Tian Guo Marching Band and float passed by Alster Lake, two formally dressed couples who were watching accepted Falun Gong flyers. One of the ladies said, “The value of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is great. I completely support it.”
Many tourists filled the area outside of the city hall. Falun Gong practitioners greeted them in English and told them about Falun Gong. A Chinese girl in her 20s with her boyfriend enjoyed the band’s performance. The girl said to a practitioner, “I know this (Falun Gong). I think Falun Gong is very good.” The practitioner gave her a paper lotus flower. She smiled in appreciation.
The Falun Gong procession on Moenckebergstraße in the business district
Raising awareness of Falun Gong in front of the Hamburg train station
Introducing Falun Gong at a Celebration in Bergedorf
Bergedorf is a district in southeast Hamburg. Fifty-two music and dancing groups from different countries participated in the parade on July 16. The Tian Guo Marching Band came one day early and performed.
Information booths lined Alte Holstenstrasse Street in Bergedorf, and the Falun Gong booth stood out. Many people paused to learn about Falun Gong, and practitioners taught children to fold paper lotus flowers. Four to five practitioners demonstrated the exercises in turn.
Practitioners introduce Falun Gong by distributing flyers and demonstrating the exercises.
The band performance drew the attention of many residents, who paused to take photos and warmly applaud. Moller, a local resident, liked the performance.
Resident Moller enjoyed the band performance.
Nicole, who is in her 40s, came from Harburg. She took a flyer one day earlier, before the parade. She chatted with a practitioner for a long while and was interested. She said she would come to see the band perform in the parade the next day. She came across the same practitioner when she went to the parade site the next day.
She said, “The costumes of the band members are so beautiful. The music is so enjoyable. I walked along with the band in the parade and saw that many people were happy like me. Some even asked me what the band was. I told them a little about Falun Gong, as I took the flyer yesterday.”
The Tian Guo Marching Band performs while crowds of spectators watch.
The parade proceeded from Bergedorf to Serrahn. Many people assembled along the parade path early, even though there was a slight drizzle.
The band performances over the two days in Bergedorf touched local residents. Ingo and his two friends live nearby, and heard about Falun Gong for the first time. Ingo also plays trumpet. He felt that the band performance was magnificent and fabulous.
The hosting organization presented a certificate of thanks to the practitioners.
The Tian Guo Marching Band was introduced to the audience as the first group in the last program of the celebration event. The band performed Triumphant Return, which won warm applause.
The hosting organization issued a certificate of thanks to the band in appreciation of the band’s participation in the event.
