TORONTO - Several hundred people gathered in Nathan Phillips Square last Friday to mark the 13th anniversary of the introduction of the Falun Gong spiritual discipline to the public. Traditional Chinese dragon dances, powerful vocal music, and insightful words from city officials were just a few of the elements of this magical three-hour event. Nathan Phillips Square joined other public spaces in over 60 countries in hosting the festivities.

Toronto World Falun Dafa Day celebration (Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

“Falun Dafa is a philosophy for living and the merging of mind and body. It promotes peace as a virtue and violence as a vice,” said Toronto City Councilor Michael Walker in his short speech at the event. Walker denounced the Chinese government’s “interference in the lives of Falun Gong practitioners in Canada,” adding that he will continue to table motions in Toronto City Hall to support Falun Gong. City Councilor Cliff Jenkins was also present, adding his voice to Walker’s.

Dozens of white doves were released, which according to Falun Gong spokesperson Donna Hope symbolically commemorated of lives of the thousands of Falun Gong practitioners who have been killed as a result of persecution in China.

	Toronto World Falun Dafa Day celebration (Jan Jekielek/The Epoch Times)

The highlight of the entertainment of the day was surely the Lotus Arts Group, a local ensemble of young women who appear to have learned their traditional dancing skills from the ancients themselves. Mesmerizing in their grace and tranquility, and clad in glittering traditional costumes, Lotus Arts captivated their audiences on three occasions throughout the event. An operatic duet performance was another highlight.

- Cindy Drukier and Jan Jekielek

BANGALORE, India - On the morning of May 13, the Cubbon Park grounds of Bangalore were glowing with a different look. Onlookers were curious to know what was going on, as they approached a group of people with yellow t-shirts who were practicing the Falun Dafa exercises or holding banners that read “World Falun Dafa Day.” On that day, practitioners from Bangalore and other cities in India gathered there to celebrate the 13th anniversary of the introduction of Falun Dafa to the public, which is also the birthday of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of Falun Dafa.

On this occasion, the practitioners let the people around know about its significance, as well as the benefits the practice has brought to people around the world. They distributed flyers to the people, while explaining the practice. After the morning practice at the Cubbon Park, they moved to hold a Press Meet at the Press Club, where they spoke to several journalists and were interviewed by local TV channels. The practitioners told them about the practice and the ongoing persecution in China, while some were demonstrating the peaceful Falun Dafa exercises.

In the evening, the celebration was held in the Gandhi Bhavan Hall. With the beautiful flower arrangements and glowing lotus flowers, the stage looked very serene and graceful with their Teacher Li’s picture on the stage. Practitioners shared their experiences of practicing Falun Dafa, which was helpful and encouraging to their fellow practitioners.

One of the practitioners in Bangalore remarked, “We had a grand celebration today, this is very different from the past two years. We are very grateful to Teacher Li for giving us a great practice.”

PHILADELPHIA – Stacey Moore, who works as a pharmacist in a fast-paced hospital, was pleasantly surprised when she strolled through Philadelphia’s “Love Park” during her lunch hour. “It was awesome,” said Moore, referring to a demonstration of five gentle exercises that are part of the Chinese spiritual practice known as Falun Dafa. “I like the way they meditated…very relaxed,” she added.

Philadelphia World Falun Dafa Day celebration (Nathea Lee / The Epoch Times)

To celebrate World Falun Dafa Day, Falun Dafa practitioners from Greater Philadelphia gathered in Love Park to share the exercises with those living and employed in the city.

Moore is one of thousands of center city residents who visit the peaceful park on breaks during their busy workdays. Surrounding the park is the Philadelphia City Hall, municipal buildings, corporate offices and prominent medical institutions.

Under a cloudless blue sky, many others passing by were mesmerized by the exercises being performed by more than a dozen of the practitioners. Four of the exercises were standing with slow, rounded movements, and the fifth was a sitting meditation. Frank Xie, a marketing professor who practices, taught the exercises to several people who asked for immediate lessons.

To hundreds, perhaps thousands of visitors to the park, approximately two dozen other practitioners distributed information about the practice and also about the persecution of Falun Dafa in China. Many who received the literature were moved when they read about the torture and murder of Falun Gong practitioners and immediately signed petitions calling for the end of the brutality.
–Phil Randell