(Minghui.org) Practitioners in India discovered that participating in book fairs is an excellent way to raise awareness about Falun Dafa and the persecution in China. Book fairs, which are held in various towns and cities throughout the year, provide a good opportunity to reach out to people and let them connect with Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa booth at a book fair in Delhi, India.
Spreading Dafa Across the Length and Breadth of India
Over the last one and a half years, there have been many book fairs where our Falun Dafa booths were booked in advance. Participating in these book fairs has provided opportunities to reach people in smaller towns that practitioners had not visited earlier.
We have encountered many predestined people in remote areas who eagerly welcomed Falun Dafa.
We have literally covered the country from north to south, and east to west. Practitioners have participated in the book fairs in the following locations during the past one and a half years: Delhi (Pragati Maidan and Delhi University South Campus), Gurgaon, Srinagar, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Aligarh, Bhatinda (Punjab), Patna, Dharamshala, Nagpur, Raipur, Hyderabad, Trichy, Coimbatore, Kanyakumari, and more.
We look forward to participating in more book fairs in the future, and in a systematic way to make a better impact.
Many visitors stop to get information about Falun Dafa in Patna, India.
Falun Dafa Booth Attracts Attention
Our booths are decorated with paper lotus flowers. and there is always at least one practitioner demonstrating the Falun Dafa exercises. People who stop at the booths see a display of Falun Dafa books (Zhuan Falun and Falun Gong – both English and Hindi versions), banners, and materials like the Compassion magazine and the Epoch Times newspaper.
Practitioners distribute Falun Dafa fliers and bookmarks to visitors, and many people ask for the lotus flowers. We explain to people the basis of Falun Dafa and tell them about the persecution in China. Many people have learned the exercises at our booths, and have bought Dafa books and CDs to take home.
After learning the exercises, many people commented on the calm energy that they felt, and some were amazed to experience immediate relief from ailments.
A school principal said, “I have never experienced energy like this in any other system!”
A family learns Falun Dafa exercises at a book fair in Srinagar, India.
Making the Most of Every Trip
Traveling to these book fairs has provided opportunities to introduce Falun Dafa to many people in various regions. When we go to different cities, we explore the area and educational institutions where we can introduce Falun Dafa.
In most places, we also go to the local parks in the morning to do the exercises. The morning walkers and joggers often come to learn the practice from us. A lot of passersby learn about the practice this way.
A Cultivation Experience for Practitioners
It was difficult at first to get many practitioners to volunteer for book fairs, since most book fairs are week-long events. Gradually, however, more practitioners started volunteering to be there for part of the time, and so the responsibilities could be shared among practitioners. Nevertheless, dealing with various schedule changes is always a challenge.
Finding inexpensive accommodations has also been a challenge. But when practitioners believed that Master had arranged everything, they always found suitable accommodations. In fact, some of the locals in small towns were so moved by the practitioners' volunteer efforts that they offered food and lodging in their modest homes for a small fee.
A Korean practitioner living in India, who is always the first one to volunteer to help at the book fairs, was deeply touched by Indian hospitality.
Practitioners who have volunteered for the book fairs have had their share of tribulations and interference. Sometimes we are shorthanded at the booth. Sometimes practitioners suddenly run into problems at home or work, have sickness symptoms, can’t get train tickets, etc.
With righteous thoughts and faith in Master and Dafa, however, practitioners have been able to overcome all interference and participate in all of the book fairs as planned.
The entire process has been a learning experience for practitioners in doing better in coordination and planning. We are now ready for a long list of forthcoming book fairs.
Category: Parades & Other Community Events
