Celebrations in New Zealand Mark the Eighth 'World Falun Dafa Day'

Falun Dafa practitioners around the world celebrated the eighth World Falun Dafa Day on Sunday May 13, which marked the 15th anniversary since the practice was introduced to the public in 1992. May 13 also marked the 56th birthday of Falun Gong's founder, Mr Li Hongzhi.

Traditional Chinese singing, dancing, drumming, as well as solo instrumental performances and an appearance by the Divine Land Band livened Elizabeth Square in downtown Auckland on Saturday May 12, and Botany Shopping Centre on Sunday May 13 as practitioners from Auckland and around the country celebrated the event.

All of the performances rejoiced the principles of Falun Dafa; Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, and gave heed to the benefits the performers have received through following the practice.

One performance by two young ladies from Wellington named 'Flower Fairies' seemed a crowd favourite. The dance portrayed two fairies in the heavens, gracefully dancing and playing flutes.

According to one of the dancers, Macey Liang, the dance expounds on the belief that heavens exist, and that good people who respect higher principles will be able to experience it in the future.

"It's like fairies in heaven," she said about the dance. "It's about how kind people, people with consciences will go to heaven after this life."

Ms Liang and her dancing partner Angela Jing performed two other acts, 'Heavenly Scene' and 'Fan Dance'.

Another traditional Chinese style dance named 'Remembering the Tang Dynasty' took the audience back in time to China's most prosperous period of history, the Tang Dynasty.

Miss Lulu Long, one of the dancers who performed the act, said the Tang Dynasty was a time when the Chinese people had high morals and virtues, which created a prosperous society with blessings from heaven.

"People in those days were very kind and followed the laws of forbearance, tolerance and kindness. The Tang Dynasty was, in my opinion, the best dynasty of Chinese history," she said.

Audience member Claudia Biedermann said she really enjoyed the show.

"The performances are really lovely. It's beautiful to watch. I have really enjoyed the dances that the girls have been doing, they're very very nice," she said.

"It's really nice these people follow truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. It seems very peaceful," she said.

One of the show's hosts, Kedit Diao, said the day was very special as the world needs truthfulness, compassion and forbearance so it was an event to be shared by people of all walks of life.

He also shared his own personal experience in following Falun Dafa: "After practicing Falun Dafa for four years I have learned a lot of things I never knew before. My heart has become more and more pure, I have become a much better person," said Mr Diao.

"Lots of people have said I changed a lot (after practicing Falun Dafa). They say 'now you are doing lots of good things for your family and for other people.' It's all because of Falun Dafa. Thank you Falun Dafa!"