(Minghui.org) Falun Dafa practitioners participated in two international book festivals, one in Ahmedabad and the other in Kochi, from November 29 to December 8, 2024. Both literary events welcomed dignitaries from the Indian government, celebrities, officials, citizens, and tourists from different states of India and abroad, bringing them together for their shared love of good books.
Practitioners displayed Falun Dafa books at their booth and shared them with attendees. Many people said they were inspired by the Falun Dafa teachings.
The Falun Dafa booth at the Kochi International Book Festival November 29 to December 8
Students stop at the Falun Dafa booth in the Ahmedabad International Book Festival that was held from November 30 to December 8.
Several people read portions of Zhuan Falun and then purchased it.
A news reporter talks to practitioners at the Ahmedabad International Book Festival.
A screenshot of the Gujarat Government Information Center’s news byte on Falun Dafa booth at the Ahmedabad International Book Festival
The Ahmedabad City International Book Festival
Falun Dafa practitioners from different cities participated in the nine-day event held at the Sabarmati Riverfront Event Center from November 30 to December 8. It was organized by the National Book Trust of India—a division under the Indian Ministry of Education—in collaboration with the state government of Gujarat. The event featured 147 publishers and 340 booths.
Former Home Minister of the Gujarat state government Rajnikant Patel spoke with practitioners. He listened at length about how Falun Dafa is being persecuted by the Chinese Communist Party and accepted a copy of Zhuan Falun given to him by practitioners.
Home Minister of the Gujarat State Government Rajnikant Patel
The practitioners also met the Minister of the State of Gujarat, Jagdish Panchal, and gave him Falun Dafa informational materials as well.
Minister of the State of Gujarat Jagdish Panchal (right) with Falun Dafa practitioners.
Two young IT professionals were drawn in by the colorful decorations at the Falun Dafa booth. One said the handmade lotuses looked “very beautiful and colorful.” Both women were touched by the guiding principles of Falun Dafa. They read out the words “Falun Dafa Is Good. Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance Is Good” on the informational materials. One of them said she would tell her company’s HR about Falun Dafa and see if they could arrange a workshop at their company.
Young IT professionals love Falun Dafa’s values.
Raghav Patel from the Gujarat State Police Department recently learned the Falun Dafa exercises at the practice site in Ahmedabad’s Parimal Garden. When he talked with practitioners at the booth, he said Falun Dafa helped resolve his chronic health problems.
“When I did them [the Falun Dafa exercises] for the first time, my body felt very light, and all my problems were gone. Now, whenever I feel physical discomfort, I do these exercises and I feel very calm, and my body becomes totally relaxed,” Raghav said.
Raghav invited senior police officers from his department to visit the Falun Dafa booth. That same day, Assistant Commissioner of Police of Ahmedabad City Hiren Chaudhari met the practitioners with his family. He was interested in learning the exercises and said he would visit the practice site at Parimal Garden.
Raghav Patel from the Gujarat State Police Department shares his experience of doing the Falun Dafa exercises.
Hiren Chaudhari, Assistant Commissioner of Police of Ahmedabad City, and his family met practitioners.
A young trader named Aakash, who also learned the Falun Dafa exercises recently, said his health improved greatly as he used to struggle with gastric problems in the past and tried many other exercises and techniques.
Akash said, “When I practiced Falun Dafa for the first time, I felt very good. I have been practicing regularly, and it has benefited me both physically and mentally. My entire body feels light and my mind feels balanced.”
Akash from Ahmedabad said he feels light and balanced after doing the Falun Dafa exercises.
A man who talked with practitioners said he wanted to learn how to practice. He sat down and read “On Dafa,” the preface to Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa.
“He really liked reading it and purchased the book on the spot. He was so moved and said everything written in ‘On Dafa’ was the truth,” a practitioner said.
Visitors read Zhuan Falun.
The Kochi City International Book Festival
This year marked the 27th Kochi International Book Festival, which was held at the Ernakulathappan Grounds from November 29 to December 8. West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, who is also a published author, inaugurated the 10-day event. He also met with the practitioners and was given a copy of Zhuan Falun.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose (left)
Kummanam Rajasekharan, the former state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Kerala, talked to practitioners, asked about the books, and bought a copy of Zhuan Falun.
Kummanam Rajasekharan (right), the former state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Kerala from 2015 to 2018.
K.S. Prasad, the secretary of Kerala’s Kalabhavan
Jose Thomas, an Indian film director from the Malayalam film industry, met practitioners at the Kochi book festival. The film director was much impressed by the guiding values of Falun Dafa.
Some people who learned the practice years ago but couldn’t continue for a variety of reasons also visited the booth and experienced a newfound motivation to resume practicing.
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