(Clearwisdom.net) On September 8th, 2007, the small Ukrainian town of Krasniy Liman celebrated its 340th anniversary. Local residents gathered in a downtown park where groups offered various cultural and artistic festivities. Ukrainian Falun Gong practitioners made use of the opportunity to inform the festival goers of the illegal, inhuman persecution of Falun Gong practitioners by the Chinese communist regime during the past eight years.

Practitioners did not submit an application ahead of time to take part in the festival because it was not announced until several days before that the festivities would be held. They decided to file the application with the Department of Culture on the day of the festival. On Sunday, practitioners explained the situation to an organizer with the Department of Culture and obtained approval immediately. The Department of Culture also provided a table for practitioners to fold paper lotus flowers.

Many residents were attracted by the demonstration of the graceful Falun Gong exercises, as well as by information display boards depicting how Falun Gong has spread widely around the world and the brutal torture of innocent practitioners in China. After understanding more details of the persecution from practitioners, everyone condemned the atrocities of the Chinese communist regime.

Practitioner Zhang Cuiying's paintings also drew attention from those who love Chinese culture. Practitioners told about the the illegal persecution that Ms. Zhang herself had suffered in China because she practiced Falun Gong. People were shocked to hear her story.

Practitioners also showed children how to fold paper lotus flowers. They told the story of the lotus flower, that it rises from the mud where it is rooted and that it symbolizes enlightenment to the truth of the cosmos that comes from true cultivation. Many adults also showed interest and joined their children in folding lotus flowers.

When the festival came to the end, another festival organizer from the Department of Culture told practitioners, "Your performance and activities are the best today!"

Source: http://clearharmony.net/articles/200709/41264.html