(Minghui.org) Spanning across five streets at Manhattan’s Union Square, one could find delicacies from many different countries, as well as clothing, and all kinds of crafts, at the Broadway Festival.

One of the 200 vendors at the one-day festival on July 2, 2017, was Falun Dafa, a spiritual practice aimed at cultivating both mind and body. Visitors watched an exercise demonstration, took a free lotus flower, and received answers to their questions about the ancient Chinese cultivation practice.

Falun Dafa booth at the Broadway Festival in Union Square, New York City

Practitioners at the tent passed out free, small paper lotus flowers. “We want to share with people the three beautiful words 'Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance',” explained a practitioner. “No matter what environment, being a good person is like a lotus flower, pure and clean, even though its root is in the mud.”

Many people took fliers after they learned that the exercise instruction was also free.

A Hispanic couple came by the Falun Dafa tent. The wife saw the demonstration and immediately wanted to learn it. After 30 minutes of standing stance exercise, she smiled and said she could feel a strong energy field and was very comfortable.

Falun Dafa exercise instruction

Some people could feel the energy field and stopped to inquire more about the exercises. Al, a Yoga trainer, bought the book Zhuan Falun English version after hearing a brief introduction.

Sarah, a college student who had registered for a Chinese language class, said she was excited to see Falun Dafa at the festival. “I knew Falun Dafa. Our Chinese teacher talked about it in the class.”

The Chinese teacher also told students that the exercise was banned in China, but people in the rest of the world could freely practice it. Sarah had since read a lot about Falun Dafa online and learned that the practice was truly very beneficial.

A young lady who works for a women's organization expressed her support of Falun Dafa. She said she had visited China once, and a Chinese friend secretly told her many stories of how Falun Dafa practitioners were brutally persecuted in China.