(Clearwisdom.net) On May 10, 2008, close to one thousand Falun Gong practitioners attended a large scale activity in Sydney's city center in celebration of the 9th World Falun Dafa day and the 16th anniversary of Falun Dafa's introduction to the public. A wide variety of programs were presented, including a grand parade, traditional dance and song performances in Chinatown and the "Uncompromising Courage" art exhibit, as well as a large group practice, to greet Master on his birthday and praise the mighty virtue of Dafa. Practitioners and the people of Sydney came together to celebrate this magnificent day in history.

Celebration for World Falun Dafa Day

The celebratory activities on World Falun Dafa day received congratulatory messages from the Honorable Chris Bowen, an Australian Member of Parliament and Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs; Leader of the Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott Despoja; and New South Wales Upper House Members of Parliament the Honorable Marie Ficarra and Ian Cohen. In his letter, Mr. Chris Bowen wrote, "In celebration of the 16th year for which Falun Dafa was introduced, I express my most sincere wishes to you. We all hope for the day that Falun Dafa practitioners will be able to live freely in any corner of the world."

New South Wales member of the Upper House Parliament,Marie Ficarra stated in her congratulatory message, "I sincerely wish all practitioners of Falun Dafa and its supporters happiness on this 16th year anniversary. Since its introduction in 1992, Falun Dafa has attracted hundreds of millions of people. Falun Dafa has brought to you physical health, spiritual strength, and peace in the heart, which all contribute to improving our quality of life and relationships with one another. You follow the principles of 'Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance' in your everyday life, the most meaningful belief in one's lifetime. You have also been advocates of peace, forgiveness, and harmony in our society. This is most worthy of praise. Again I would like to wish you a successful celebration for the 16th anniversary of Falun Dafa being introduced to the world."

New South Wales Member of the Upper House Parliament Mr. Ian Cohen said in his letter, "I am very glad to see that your group has strengthened, despite the many difficulties you have faced from the Chinese Communist government. All governments and people should no longer neglect the human rights persecution happening in China. I hope you can continue to persist, and welcome a new government this year that will respect differences in opinion, as well as encourage the development and prosperity of various cultures."

At 11 o'clock in the morning, the grand parade began its journey through Sydney's city center. The parade formations were divided into three sections, the first of which displayed the beauty of Falun Dafa, the second presented anti-persecution messages, while the third sent messages encouraging people to quit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and about the Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party. The parade began at Town Hall and continued down George Street, the busiest street in the city center, and passed Chinatown before it arrived at the Sydney Entertainment Center. Practitioners from different ethnic backgrounds, male and female, young and old, attracted many bystanders as the parade progressed. In particular, tourists from China and other Asian regions picked up their cameras to capture this precious moment in history. Many people also actively inquired about truth clarifying materials, and the whereabouts of local practice sites.

According to Johnathan, the chief marshal of the parade, World Falun Dafa Day has become an official annual event on the calendar of the Sydney city council. Johnathan said, "Our event received great support from the Sydney police department, City Hall, the Sydney Port Authority, the Roads and Traffic Authority, and the City Rail department."

The Divine Land Marching Band lead the parade. Its magnificent tunes moved the hearts of many people and presented the courageous spirit and tenacious vitality of Falun Gong practitioners.

A large model of the book Zhuan Falun, an exercise troop of practitioners in golden yellow outfits, a banner that read "Falun Dafa in over 80 Countries Worldwide", as well as a lotus flower float and Celestial Maiden formation, presented the beauty of Falun Dafa. In front a banner proclaiming "Falun Dafa is Good, Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance" was held by practitioners. This was followed by dancers in Tang Dynasty costumes, fan dancers, Chinese lute (pipa) players, and Qing Dynasty dancers, all graceful and beautiful in displaying traditional Chinese culture.

Parade in celebration of World Falun Dafa Day

Divine Land Marching Band

The Celestial Maidens formation

The second section of the parade displayed strong messages against the persecution. Practitioners held giant banners that read "The World Brings Jiang Zemin to Justice," "Bring Jiang Zemin, Luo Gan, Liu Jing, Zhou Yongkang to Legal Justice," "Stop Harvesting Organs from Falun Gong Practitioners," "Matas and Kilgour Report - More than 40 000 organ transplants in China have no record of donors," and "Thousands of Falun Gong Practitioners Are Missing." Reenactments of the horrific crimes of organ harvesting were presented on a moving truck, and a group of female practitioners dressed all in white carried the photos of fellow practitioners who had been persecuted in China. The display was riveting and stunned many onlookers.

The third section of the parade was a large formation of banners such as: "Heavens Disintegrates the Chinese Communist Party" and other messages relevant to quitting the CCP. The banners reminded people that no persecution of a righteous belief has ever succeeded in history. During the nine years of the persecution of Falun Gong, the CCP has thoroughly failed in this endeavor. On the contrary, it has triggered a giant wave of withdrawals from the Party. People have come to realize the evil nature of the CCP and chosen to stand on the side of conscience and justice, toward a bright future.

In the final section of the parade practitioners held colorful flags imprinted with "Falun Dafa Is Good." During the parade, the vitality displayed by the practitioners won much applause from onlookers. At the end of the parade, all the practitioners stood for a group photo to wish greeting revered Master Happy Birthday.

Bystanders watching the parade

During an interview, Ms. Zhao, one of the event organizers, said, "Today, many Falun Gong practitioners and I have taken part in this celebration with a heart of great thanksgiving. During the past 16 years, Falun Dafa has spread around the world and benefited hundreds of millions of people. However, for nine years it has suffered brutal persecution and malicious slander from the Chinese Communist regime. We hope to bring the wonderful message of Falun Dafa to more Australian people and the people of China. In the struggle between good and evil during the past nine years, Falun Dafa practitioners have suffered infinite pains and have even lost their lives. Yet they persist in peace, rationality, giving without selfishness, to clarify the truth and spread the seeds of compassion. From the World Falun Dafa Day celebrations over the past years, one can also see that more and more Australian and Chinese people have come to understand the truth about Falun Dafa. They have taken a stand against the persecution and voiced their support for justice. An ever-increasing number of people have also entered the path of cultivation."

For one practitioner from Beijing, it was the second time she had attended World Falun Dafa Day celebrations. She said, "After the Chinese Communist regime began its persecution of Falun Gong, we were not able to enjoy freedom like this to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day in China. I am very glad to attend this celebratory event once again." She also said, "I practice Falun Gong here [in Australia] without any pressure. Yet, in China, my family has suffered continuous persecution. I felt very moved in the parade today. In the section that mourned Falun Gong practitioners who have been persecuted to death, I could feel the emotions of onlookers were as heavy as our own. I feel the audience has much sympathy for practitioners of Falun Gong that are being persecuted."

Emma from Brisbane worked as the manager of a health and fitness club. She said in an interview, "I discovered this practice in the park, and when I began to practice, it felt wonderful. I began to read Zhuan Falun and started to cultivate quite naturally. Through the practice of Falun Dafa, my life has changed very much."

Former associate professor in the Chinese Academy of Science Ms Liu Jinghang said, "During these years of the Chinese Communist regime's persecution of Falun Gong, Falun Gong has spread further to all corners of the world, and the number of practitioners has continued to rise. Although the persecution continues, more than 36 million people have withdrawn from the Chinese Communist Party and its related organizations. This shows that people are awakening and have chosen to distance themselves from the evil Party. As more people quit the CCP, the disintegration of the Chinese Communist regime is set to be quite a natural event. During these years, Falun Gong practitioners have spread the messages of 'Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance' around the world in their peaceful and rational calls to protest the persecution. I believe in the near future people all over the world will come together to celebrate this grand occasion."