(Minghui.org) The Astoria Festival was postponed for a year and a half because of the pandemic, but it reopened to the public on Independence Day, July 4, 2021. Falun Dafa practitioners set up a booth and taught the exercises free of charge to anyone who was interested. The event attracted many people and was warmly received by the locals.
The Astoria Festival was held once a month before the pandemic and is made up of a variety of booths that sell specialty merchandise, food and snacks. It is located on Broadway in Queens and covers five streets.
Falun Dafa practitioners arrived at 10 a.m. between 43rd Street and Broadway. They set up tents and played their serene, calm exercise music while demonstrating the five sets of exercises. They gave people handmade paper lotus flowers and truth-clarification pamphlets. Many locals came over to the booth to inquire about Falun Dafa, and some of them started learning the exercises.
Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrate the exercises
Locals learn the Falun Dafa exercises
A man leaves his contact number so that he could learn more about Falun Dafa
Two young men left their contact numbers and emails with practitioners after learning the exercises. They wanted to attend a free exercise class and join a local group practice site.
After doing the exercises, Hussein from Jordan stated that he felt a strong energy field and inquired about group Fa study and practice sites in Astoria. After learning that Falun Dafa practitioners are persecuted in China, he was shocked. Hussein left a contact number and said he wished to join an outdoor group practice.
Hussein, from Jordan, had been passing the information booth on his bike. He was drawn by the sight of the Falun Dafa practitioners demonstrating the exercises. He decided to learn how to practice on the spot.
A Falun Dafa practitioner said: “Today was a great day. Many people came over to learn the practice, and they were also able to do the double lotus position. Many people had been staying home because of the pandemic, and the street fair is a great opportunity to learn about Falun Dafa.”
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