(Clearwisdom.net) May 13, 2009 is the 10^th World Falun Dafa Day, and Master Li Hongzhi's 58^th birthday. On May 9, Falun Gong practitioners from Melbourne, Australia, held a parade, rally and candlelight vigil at the City Plaza to celebrate the Falun Dafa Day.

The parade

The parade in Chinatown

The parade

The parade

People watch the parade.

People watch the parade.

Clarifying the truth

Demonstrating the Falun Gong exercises

Traditional Chinese dance

People are attracted to the performances.

Practitioners did group exercises in the morning at the City Plaza. At noon, the parade set off. Practitioners played waist drums, carried banners, and performed traditional Chinese dances. Many people were attracted to the parade. Practitioners also re-enacted torture and organ harvesting atrocities, exposing the brutal persecution Falun Gong faces in China.

After the parade, a rally was held. Chinese and Western practitioners shared their experiences of how they benefit from cultivating Falun Gong.

Barbara shared that she was badly injured from an accident. Practicing Falun Gong renewed her life. Jason had serious heart disease and was depressed. The doctors said he could not live long. He started practicing Falun Gong in 2001, and his life completely changed. He said, "Nobody has given me as much as Master Li and Falun Gong have. On this 10^th World Falun Dafa Day, I would like to express my appreciation to Master Li again."

Ms. Sun shared her experiences. She started practicing in 1998. She was badly tortured during the persecution in China. Her sister was jailed in a labor camp in 2001. Ms. Sun escaped to Australia, obtaining her freedom. She now tries to help those who are still being persecuted in China.

After the experience sharing, practitioners held a candlelight vigil, in memory of those who have lost their lives during the persecution.