(Clearwisdom.net) The ninth-annual Luminara Community Lantern Festival, hosted by the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, took place on Saturday evening, July 26, 2008, at Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

For the second straight year, Victoria practitioners participated in this popular family event, which drew an estimated 20,000 people of all ages and races. Some people brought their own lanterns to celebrate this festival of lights.

The practitioners' site was located at one of the entrances to the park, so as people entered, they could see the three large bright shining stars with the words Truth-Compassion-Tolerance in Chinese on one side and in English on the other next to a column of colorful lotus flowers.

At intervals throughout the evening, five celestial maidens performed fan dances and flower fairies dances, drawing a big crowd every time. Many little girls who were watching moved their arms gently to imitate the dancers' graceful movements.

The event concluded at 11 pm.