(Minghui.org) The Portland Rose Festival in Portland, Oregon is held in June each year and has a history of more than 100 years. The entire festival lasts for nearly a month, and many large entertainment activities are held, including the city expo, the coronation ceremony for the festival queen, the grand flower parade, and the Starlight Parade.
The Starlight Parade on June 1, 2024 is one of the highlights of the Rose Festival, and was held in the center of Portland. Although the parade was held at night, people began gathering along the route before sunset.
Falun Dafa practitioners in Washington and Oregon were once again invited to participate. They carefully assembled a boat-shaped float which received unanimous praise from the judges and audience. Their entry was awarded first place in the non-commercial groups.
The practitioners’ boat-shaped float received unanimous praise from the judges and spectators, and was awarded first place in the non-commercial group category.
Practitioners participate in the Starlight Parade on June 1, 2024.
The float style was unique. The entire hull was based in green, and the hull is dotted with blossoming plums. There was a golden sail on the boat and colorful clouds surrounding a lotus platform. The fairy-dressed practitioners sat in the lotus platform, with some practitioners in yellow costumes on both sides of the float demonstrating the exercises.
When the night fell, lights on the float were turned on and drew the attention of passersby. Spectators took many pictures and praised the float.
The parade officially started at 8 p.m., with the Falun Dafa team positioned in the middle. The float slowly moved forward as the melodious Dafa music played. Along the route spectators cheered or called out, “Falun Dafa!” “It’s so beautiful! Your float is so beautiful!” Some kept taking photos, others applauded, and many people gave a thumbs-up. Some children and adults followed the hand gestures as practitioners demonstrated the exercises on the float.
A Chinese spectator took videos, and one shouted in Chinese, “Falun Dafa is good.” Another said, “I love you. Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance are great.”
A local TV station covered the event and live-streamed that night, allowing hundreds of thousands of people to watch the parade. One and a half minutes were spent reporting on the practitioners’ float from all angles, showing the details of the float, playing several close-ups of the practitioners on the float, and repeatedly praising Falun Dafa.
In addition, the nine event announcers along the route introduced Falun Dafa to the audience.
Background: What Is Falun Dafa?
Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong) was first introduced to the public by Mr. Li Hongzhi in Changchun, China, in 1992. The spiritual discipline is now practiced in over 100 countries worldwide. Millions of people who have embraced the teachings—which are based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance—and learned the five exercises, have experienced improved health and well-being.
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