(Clearwisdom.net) The City of Mississauga, Canada, has held its annual Bread & Honey Festival on the first weekend of June every year since 1973. Mississauga is a sprawling suburb west of Toronto. On June 4, the Toronto chapter of the Divine Land Marching Band joined the 39^th festival parade. Marching in a heavy storm, the resounding music and coordinated pace of the band inspired and impressed many spectators. The Divine Land Marching Band is composed entirely of Falun Gong practitioners.

As the parade was lining up around 9 a.m., the rain started. By the time the band started to march around 10 a.m., it was raining harder and harder and had turned into a deluge. The band marched and performed throughout the parade and finished the parade route while the rain never paused.

Divine Land Marching Band at the staging area of the Missisauga Bread & Honey Festival Parade

Marching in the parade

Reaching the end point of the parade

Helen, a local resident, said that the Divine Land Marching Band was the best among all participating bands. “I loved it, especially the music that I can tell its Chinese cultural component. The band is very inspiring. All the way raining, all the way inspired, all the way to glory!”

Her husband Jim was also full of enthusiasm about the band's performance and said: “Seeing such a special band in this special weather, you have a special feeling, which is very good.” 

Helen and Jim praised the band's performance

Sharon and her friends danced to the music. Sharon said: “So amazing! So formal! They have a such compassion power that comes through.”

Sharon (right) and her friend danced to the music by the Divine Land Marching Band

Laura said that this was her second time seeing the band perform. “I listened to their tuning, which was very accurate. In such heavy rain, it is amazing that the performed so well. I totally get their music.”

Laura (right) was amazed by the band's top-notch performance despite the rain

Michelle watched the parade with her daughter Cathy and two grandchildren. She said: “We come to this parade every year, and I remember seeing this spectacular band last year. They did a fantastic job. We hope that they will come every year!”

Michelle and her family said that the band performance was fantastic

Ms. Zhang Li, a Falun Gong practitioner, plays the drum in the band. She said: “It was raining very hard, and yet there were so many spectators watching and cheering us on. I was deeply touched the whole time. Though my drum was eventually covered with rainwater, I felt each drum beat was emitting positive energy.”

Ms. Fei was carrying the “Falun Dafa” banner at the forefront, and she said: “No matter how bad the weather was, I smiled the whole time from the bottom of my heart. I felt the drumbeats were truly resounding in all dimensions.”

Ms. Zhao watched the parade with her daughter and grandson. Ms. Zhao said: “We know Falun Gong well. They should not be persecuted. In this free land, they can freely practice their beliefs. I wish them the best.”

Ms. Zhao and her family wished practitioners all the best

Mr. Wang from Hong Kong watched the parade with her Korean daughter-in-law and two grandchildren. Wang said: “I admire them (Divine Land Marching Band). It is raining so hard, and they performed with such great energy. We thank them!”