(Minghui.org) May 13, 2023, was the 31^st anniversary of the first public introduction of Falun Dafa by founder Master Li Hongzhi. This special day is also the 24^th World Falun Dafa Day and Master Li’s birthday. On Sunday, May 7, 2023, Falun Dafa practitioners in Las Vegas held various celebratory activities to celebrate this joyous occasion.

The morning sun shone brightly as practitioners gathered at the Desert Breeze Park in Spring Valley, Nevada. They began their day-long celebration by practicing Falun Dafa’s five exercises.

Practitioners began the day’s events by doing the Falun Dafa exercises.

Celebratory Activities Held at Local Park

The melodious music and graceful exercise movements attracted the attention of many locals in the morning. People said they liked the Falun Dafa exercises.

The practitioners sang “Ode to Master’s Grace” to express their infinite gratitude to Master for saving them and shouldering the limitless karma of sentient beings.

“Falun Dafa practitioners from Las Vegas wish revered Master a Happy Birthday!” they shouted in unison as they recorded a video message. They also released colored birthday balloons in the air to send in their deepest respects and birthday wishes to Master.

As part of the event, practitioners released colorful birthday balloons to send their birthday wishes to Master.

Wishing Master a Happy Birthday

Practitioners wish Master a Happy Birthday.

Parade Along Las Vegas Boulevard

They also paraded along Las Vegas Boulevard to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. With the music “Falun Dafa Is Good” playing in the background, practitioners’ orderly formation and eye-catching banners in both Chinese and English captured the attention of many tourists. Many people accepted truth-clarification flyers, took photos, and waved to practitioners. Some also put their palms together in the heshi position to show their respect while others walked along with practitioners in the parade and asked about Falun Dafa.

Practitioners parade along Las Vegas Boulevard.

In the evening, they headed to the Mirage Volcano, a famous tourist destination, to distribute Falun Dafa information and lotus flowers. Many people listened attentively to practitioners explain the practice and said they agreed with the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance.

Practitioners distribute Falun Dafa informational flyers and give out lotus flowers at the Mirage Volcano.

Learning the Exercises

A woman from the Philippines said a friend suggested she come to the park to see the World Falun Dafa Day celebration. She joined practitioners and learned the exercise movements. She said she felt a strong energy field. She practiced ballet for nine years and was able to fold her legs in the lotus position on the first try.

A lady learns the fifth exercise.

The lady went on the Falun Dafa website with her cellphone and read the English version of “On Dafa.” A practitioner told her about Zhuan Falun, the main text of Falun Dafa and about the nine-day lecture classes. Before she left, the lady signed the petition to support practitioners in ending the persecution and took a flyer about the Chinese Communist Party’s atrocity of forced live organ harvesting. She expressed her thanks and said she wanted to pass on the information to her friends.

A More Positive Outlook on Life

Cristina from Vietnam practices Falun Dafa and her fiancé John Gregg, who works in the police department, is a veteran. John joined the celebration with Cristina and said that it was the second time he’s participated in the “May 13” events.

John said, “I have been practicing the exercises with Cristina for the past two years. I am also reading Zhuan Falun. I used to spend a lot of time drinking in pubs. I always felt unsatisfied with people. Now I can control my emotions and abide by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. I found my inner peace after studying the Fa and practicing the exercises. My life has changed in many positive ways.”

He is sad about the ongoing persecution of Falun Dafa practitioners in China. He hopes to tell more people about the persecution and hopes that everyone will stand together to resist it. He was grateful to Master for teaching him how to improve in cultivation. He will try his best to be a better person and wishes Master a Happy Birthday.