By practitioners from Atlanta

(Clearwisdom.net) As May 13, 2004 marked the Fifth World Falun Dafa Day and the 12^th anniversary of esteemed Master's introduction of Falun Dafa, practitioners from Atlanta held celebration activities on this special day at Woodruff Park in downtown Atlanta.

The sun came out again after the rain, and Woodruff Park felt extremely clean and fresh. At 11:30am, a few dozen Falun Dafa practitioners came to the park and brought banners that they personally made, colorful balloons and lotus flowers to decorate the celebration site. The park was filled with a festival atmosphere. A western practitioner first read the proclamation issued by Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to honor Falun Dafa Day. In his proclamation, Governor Perdue especially mentioned that the steadfastness and courage manifested by Falun Gong practitioners in safeguarding "Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance" in the most severe environment (in China) reminded people of the value of life and the preciousness of maintaining the dignity of human nature.

During the ceremony, congratulatory letters from Congresswoman Denise Majette, State Senator Dan Moody, State Assemblyman Calvin Smyre, and State Assemblyman and Administrative Floor Leader, Mark Burkhalter were also read.

Then, Falun Gong practitioners performed the five Falun Gong exercises. A female practitioner performed a solo, "Be Saved," wishing people would treasure this most rare of opportunities. Minghui school students also sang a song to present to Master. In the song, they expressed their gratitude for Master's benevolent salvation. Their pure and sweet voices moved everyone. Wearing bright-colored Chinese traditional costumes, female practitioners performed dances, "Spinning Falun Dafa" and "Flower Fairies". Their dances were very graceful. "Flower fairies" elegantly danced, wishing the fans in their hands would bring more goodness to people. In the end, practitioners performed the waist drum dance accompanied by the music, "Falun Dafa is great". The drum dance pushed the celebration to a climax.

The waist drum performance won people's admiration. A lot of people stopped to watch. It was during the noon hour and many people, including some officials and staff who work in the office buildings or shops surrounding the park and some students from a nearby university, walked by and stopped to attentively watch the performances. They were very happy to have this opportunity to watch performances from Chinese culture. A number of people looked at the photo display, and many of them came to our booth to ask for more information or ask questions.

Ms. Becky Yao, who played cymbals for the drum team, is a piano instructor. She was extremely happy to participate in the drum team and to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. She felt that she experienced a new beginning of her life from her cultivation of Falun Dafa. She also hoped that the sound of drums would awaken people: Falun Dafa is good and the world needs Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance.

A series of celebrations had begun in the beginning of May. On May 9, practitioners went to the famous tourist attraction site, the Stone Mountain, to hold group practice and experience sharing, as well as to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. On May 15, they will hold a celebration in Atlanta's Chinatown again to display the beauty of Falun Dafa and help more people learn about the persecution in China.

Performing Falun Gong exercises and introducing Falun Dafa at Stone Mountain

Dafa practitioners from Atlanta respectfully wish Master a Happy 53rd Birthday!

Minghui school students respectfully wish Benevolent and great Master a happy 53rd birthday

Posting date: 5/17/2004
Original article date: 5/16/2004
Category: Falun Dafa Worldwide
Chinese version available at http://minghui.ca/mh/articles/2004/5/15/74698.html