June Parade

The Falun Dafa parade today in midtown was a bright and multi-faceted spectacle, from the reflection of the sun in the band's tubas to the waves of different colored banners carried by participants -- all of which popped against the midtown streets they followed, starting and ending in the heart of the garment district, on 38th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues. Some of the marchers offered entertainment, with music, dance, and traditional costumes. Others waved banners calling for the end of communism in China. One float specifically addressed China's human rights violations. But while there were pamphleteers and some somber messages, for the most part the tone of the event was joyful. And multi-cultural, with Swiss, Mexican, and Jewish groups participating. Falun Dafa is a movement founded in China -- but the country's government has not been hospitable to the group, and it has taken its teachings to more than 70 countries, with some cult-like approaches. Falun Dafa promotes itself as a "traditional self-cultivation practice to improve mind and body" that incorporates exercise, meditation, and prayer.

Here are some photos I took as the parade participants got ready: