(Minghui.org) About 2,000 practitioners in the Greater New York area held a parade in Manhattan on May 13, 2026, to celebrate World Falun Dafa and the birthday of Mr. Li Hongzhi, the founder of the practice.
First introduced to the public on May 13, 1992, Falun Dafa is practiced by over 100 million people in more than 100 countries and regions. The practice consists of five exercises and following the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Zhuan Falun, the main teachings of the practice, has been translated into 50 languages and is available to read for free at FalunDafa.org.
The impressive procession was led by the Tian Guo Marching Band and followed by floats, exercise demonstrations, a dragon dance, a lion dance, waist drums, and banners as it proceeded along several blocks on 42nd Street in Manhattan. The three-hour celebration also included banners representing different ethnic groups.
Many residents, commuters, and tourists said they were impressed by the festive atmosphere, the bright colors, and uplifting music. People stopped to watch the dragon and lion dances, read the banners, and take pictures and videos. Pedestrians and drivers waved to practitioners or gave them a thumbs up to show their support.
Practitioners held a grand parade in Manhattan on May 13. (Minghui.org)
The Power of Positive Energy
Sylvia Mushkin from Florida (Minghui.org)
Sylvia Mushkin, a tourist from Miami, Florida, took videos of the parade. “My husband is a CEO of an international food company. I will definitely show him these [videos] when I see him later,” she said.
It was “very peaceful and beautiful. I could feel the kindness and the energy,” she said and added that watching the parade was “a wonderful experience.”
Values That Benefit All of Us
Lauren Fairweather and her daughter Maddie (Minghui.org)
Lauren Fairweather, an event planner from South Carolina, was visiting New York with her daughter Maddie. They liked the parade and the messages on the banners. Fairweather said that she agreed with traditional values such as moral standards and sincerity. Her daughter said she also liked the messages on the banners.
“The words Truthfulness, Compassion, and Forbearance have profound meanings,” Fairweather added. “If more people could follow these, they would become better citizens and the world would be a better place.”
IT professional Mourad Abdou and his aunt, Nydia Lapocht, stopped to watch the parade. Pointing to the banners, Lapocht said she believed Falun Dafa’s teachings such as Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance could help society. Abdou was also pleased to see such an amazing parade and said he thought it was well organized.
Music Producer: The Persecution Is Wrong
Raam Band (Minghui.org)
Raam Band, a music producer and artist, lives in New York. He said the Tian Guo Marching Band’s music was impressive, especially the trumpet, and the traditional culture displayed in the event was magnificent.
When he read the banners about the suppression of Falun Dafa by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Band said he was interested in learning more about: “There is no reason to prohibit an activity like this.”
New Practitioner: A Calmer Mind
Zhang Chunhong from Shandong Province, China
Zhang Chuhong, who started to practice Falun Dafa two years ago, was in the parade. Her parents always told her Falun Dafa was great, but she did not practice it. After she and her husband moved to Brooklyn two years ago, she attended a Nine Day Falun Dafa Workshop and began to practice.
“Every sentence in Zhuan Falun is very meaningful and tells me how to be a better person and how to handle conflicts,” she said. “I’m much calmer now, and I’m able to get along better with my coworkers.”
Looking back on the two years since she began practicing, Zhang said she’s learned a lot. She is thankful to Falun Dafa and Master Li and thinks more people could benefit from the practice.
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