(Minghui.org) To celebrate World Falun Dafa Day (May13) and the birthday of Master Li, the founder of Falun Dafa, practitioners in New York arranged for a giant “Falun Dafa Is Good” banner to fly over Manhattan on May 8. By sharing the beauty of Falun Dafa and the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, they hope more people will know about and benefit from the practice.

The weather in New York City was exceptionally clear that day, with azure skies dotted with puffy white clouds. That morning, a small plane towing a gigantic “Falun Dafa Is Good” banner approximately 80 feet long and 40 feet high flew north from the Statue of Liberty, skimming the Manhattan skyline along the Hudson River. The flight path extended from New York Harbor over the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Governors Island, all the way to the George Washington Bridge in northern Manhattan.

A "Falun Dafa Is Good" banner flies over Manhattan on May 8, 2026.

Video of the event

The organizer in charge of planning the event said the banner flew over Manhattan to welcome the 27th World Falun Dafa Day. “It is also a way for Falun Dafa practitioners to celebrate the day and express their gratitude to Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of the practice,” he said.

As the plane flew along the Hudson River, residents, tourists, and office workers in high-rise buildings on both sides of the river had a clear view of the message on the banner.

The organizer hopes that similar events will not only take place in New York but also in Washington, DC, and cities around the world. “We hope to bring the wonderful message of ‘Falun Dafa Is Good’ to more places around the world, so that more people can learn about Falun Dafa and benefit from it,” he explained.

Around May 13th every year, Falun Dafa practitioners all over the world celebrate World Falun Dafa Day through a variety of activities, including parades, rallies, cultural performances, and demonstrations of the exercises. This year, huge “Falun Dafa Is Good” banners appeared in the skies over New York City for both April 25th and May 13th, showcasing the peaceful and benevolent spirit of Falun Dafa to the world.

The photographer of the event said that he had captured the “Falun Dafa Is Good” banner flying over Manhattan twice this year. The first time, he shot it from across the Hudson River, while this time, he was on a plane and was able to record it up close. Both experiences deeply moved him.

“Seeing the banner fly over the Hudson River from such a height was incredibly moving,” he said and added that the feeling was especially strong when the banner soared over the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of the American spirit. He said he felt honored to participate: “You feel that this isn’t just a flight, but a very special moment. It allows more people to see 'Falun Dafa Is Good' and gives people hope.”

Falun Dafa was first introduced to the public on May 13, 1992, and has since been embraced by over 100 million people who do the exercises and live by Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance in over 100 countries and regions around the world.