(Minghui.org) This May 13 marks the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introdcution and 24th World Falun Dafa Day. To celebrate this special occasion and express their gratitude for all the benefits they’ve obtained from this ancient mind-body practice, Falun Dafa practitioners around the world have been holding events since last week.
Canada
A Falun Dafa Day flag was raised in front of Milton’s town hall in Ontario, Canada on May 1, 2023. Mayor Gord Krantz hosted the flag raising ceremony. The Falun Dafa Day flag will fly for 16 days. In the evening, the High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta, was lit up to celebrate the special day.
Flag raising ceremony in front of Milton’s town hall on May 1, 2023
The High Level Bridge in Edmonton, Alberta is lit up on May 1 to celebrate the 24th Falun Dafa Day.
Fourteen Canadian Members of Parliament (MPs) and an MP’s representative participated in the celebration on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 3. The MPs commended Falun Dafa’s principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance for making Canada and the world a better place, not only for the physical and mental health of individuals but also by maintaining world peace. They also spoke highly of the strength, tenacity, patience, and compassion shown by practitioners during the persecution, and said that they would stand with them to safeguard the freedom to believe in Falun Dafa.
Falun Dafa practitioners celebrate the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction on May 3, before World Falun Dafa Day.
Judy Sgro, MP, co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong
Judy Sgro, MP, co-chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Falun Gong, on behalf of Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal Party Caucus, encouraged all Falun Dafa practitioners who participated in the event. She said, “Please continue with your message about peace and tranquility that needs to happen and this is the result of Falun Dafa.”
Another Falun Dafa Day flag was raised in front of the Town Hall in Amherstburg, Canada on May 5. Mayor Michael Prue hosted the ceremony and read his proclamation. It had been raining for days in Amherstburg, but it was warm and sunny on the day of the flag-raising. Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said that the practitioners brought good weather and blessings to the city. He was very thankful to the practitioners.
Mayor Michael Prue (4th on the right) and Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb (2nd on the right) and other councilors with practitioners
The mayor and councilors learn the first Falun Dafa exercise “Buddha Showing a Thousand Arms”
Mayor Michael Prue and other councilors then started to learn the Falun Dafa exercises from practitioners. Mayor Prue said he first met practitioners 24 years ago, but this was the first time he’d tried the exercises. He said that he enjoyed them. He felt his body was extended and his mind was calm.
Other events held in Canada included grand parades in Toronto and Vancouver on May 6, as well as celebrations in Montreal and Calgary.
Parade in Toronto on May 6
Parade in Vancouver on May 6
Celebration in Montreal
Celebration in Calgary
United States
A grand parade was held in downtown San Francisco on May 6. As practitioners were doing the exercises together in front of the Ferry Building before the parade, many tourists stopped to find out more about the practice after seeing the gentle, relaxing movements.
Celebration in San Francisco
Practitioners in Los Angeles and Seattle also held celebratory events.
Group exercises on the beach in Santa Monica near Los Angeles on May 7
On the East Coast, practitioners in New York gathered in Manhattan’s Union Square on May 7. They celebrated with group exercises and cultural performances. Other such events also took place in Boston and Washington, D.C.
Practitioners gathered in Union Square in Manhattan to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day and wish Master Li a Happy Birthday.
Group exercises and information booth in Boston on May 6
Doing the exercises together near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. on May 7
Europe
In Europe, celebrations including parades, cultural performances, and drums were held in Frankfurt, Dublin, and Edinburgh. Michel Gahler, a member of the European Parliament, attended the event in Frankfurt and gave a speech. Four government officials in Hessen, Germany, sent congratulatory letters prior to the event.
Frankfurt
Dublin
Edinburgh
Singapore
Practitioners in Singapore gathered at a park in the Downtown Core on May 5 to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. There were little practitioners only a few years old as well as some in their 80s. Some have practiced Falun Dafa for more than 20 years while others started only a few weeks ago. They are grateful for the positive changes they’ve experienced from practicing Falun Dafa and hope more people can benefit from it.
Doing the exercises together
Taiwan
Thousands of practitioners in Taipei attended the celebration on Liberty Square on May 6 to celebrate the World Falun Dafa Day.
More celebrations were also held in Hualien, Chiayi, and Taoyuan.
Japan
In Japan, practitioners held a parade in Yokohama on May 7. Headed by the Tian Guo Marching Band, the parade passed through the downtown areas and several tourist spots.
Parade in Yokohama
Russia
Despite the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, practitioners in Russia held an event in Moscow. Everyone expressed their sincere gratitude to Master Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.
Practitioners in Russia
Zoya Suvorova
Zoya Suvorova has been practicing Falun Dafa for 20 years. She said, “Falun Dafa is of great importance to me. I searched for the meaning of life and the reason I exist, ever since I was eight years old. It was most important for me when I began to practice Falun Dafa at the age of 62. I feel like I have been given a second chance in life.”
Proclamations and Congratulatory Messages
The New York State Senate adopted Resolution 821 on April 25 to commemorate the 24th annual World Falun Dafa Day. This is the eleventh year the New York Senate has passed resolutions commending “World Falun Dafa Day.”
U.S. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, who represents the District of Columbia, sent a letter of support to Falun Gong practitioners in Washington, D.C. and around the world.
In the nearby state of Maryland, executives of Frederick County, Baltimore County, and Ann Arundel County all declared May 13, 2023, “World Falun Dafa Day.”
In the state of Ohio in the U.S., three city mayors issued proclamations and a letter to mark World Falun Dafa Day, including Mayor Barbara J Spaeth of Mason, Mayor Kevin M. Hardman of Sharonville, and Mayor Scott Brunka of Lebanon.
Thirteen elected officials from Ontario, Canada also marked the 31st anniversary of Falun Dafa’s public introduction by sending greeting letters and video praising Falun Dafa practitioners’ contributions to the community.
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