Written by Trisha, a Falun Dafa practitioner in Melbourne, Australia.

The Significance of July 20 for Falun Dafa Practitioners

The date July 20 is significant for those who practice Falun Dafa (also known as Falun Gong). It marks the day when Jiang Zemin started the brutal persecution against Falun Gong in China in 1999.
In April 1999, Chinese citizens peacefully appealed against the unjust treatment of Falun Gong practitioners that had already started. Many went to the Appeals Office and stood together quietly, waiting for an opportunity to express their concern. A few representatives were selected to speak with government officials and Jiang Zemin, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party at the time. After the meeting, all Falun Gong practitioners outside the Appeals Office picked up rubbish and left the area peacefully.

My Journey With Falun Dafa Since 2007

I have been practicing Falun Dafa since 2007. I still remember the first July 20 parade and candlelight vigil I participated in. These experiences were uplifting and rewarding, especially with so many people stopping to watch our display.

On July 12, 2025, our Victorian Falun Dafa group held the annual July 20 Awareness Parade early. The exact date doesn’t matter; our purpose is to let the public know that Falun Dafa is good.

Preparing for the Parade

I always volunteer to be in the exercise demonstration section. I wear white pants and a yellow top with blue lettering that reads "Falun Dafa." Because it was cold, I wore a yellow jacket with Falun Dafa written in both English and Chinese. Others wore similar jackets with the words printed on the back. These garments are specially designed by practitioners so that we look coordinated and present a vibrant, harmonious image.

A Moment of Reflection at Victoria Gardens

As I sat on a bench opposite the National Gallery at Victoria Gardens, dressed in my Falun Dafa attire, I reflected on my 19 years of practice. Participating in this parade each year fills me with joy and deep honour.

Behind me, many practitioners were meditating on the lawn. The meditation music was so soothing that the cold morning air seemed to transform into gentle warmth.

Public Reactions and Community Engagement

As people passed by, I greeted them with a smile. One young woman took a flyer, and I wished her a good day. Others stopped to ask about the event. We explained that we were there to share the beauty of Falun Dafa and raise awareness about the human rights abuses in China.

In 1999, Jiang Zemin and the Chinese Communist Party began a brutal crackdown on Falun Gong. Many practitioners were detained without fair trials, brainwashed, tortured, and some even died. Investigations uncovered the horrific practice of forced organ harvesting from detained practitioners. Falun Dafa is freely practiced worldwide—except in China.

The Parade Begins

When the meditation music ended, the parade music started. Practitioners gathered in formation, each section ready. The Tian Guo Marching Band led, dressed in cream pants and navy blue jackets, their instruments gleaming.

Behind them came a group holding banners with powerful messages:

"26 Years of Persecution of Falun Gong in China Must End Now"
"Please Help Stop the Forced Organ Harvesting in China"
"Falun Dafa Teaches Truthfulness, Compassion, Forbearance"
"Falun Dafa Is Free to Learn"

The banner holders wore casual clothes with yellow Falun Dafa jackets.

Exercise Demonstrations and Cultural Displays

Next came a giant blue replica of Zhuan Falun, the main book studied by practitioners. Following that was my group, demonstrating Exercises 1, 2, and 3, which involve flowing arm movements. Some onlookers mimicked our actions with smiles.

Behind us was a beautifully crafted boat on wheels. At the top stood a young woman dressed in a light pink gown, performing graceful hand movements used in seated meditation.

Then came a group of women in white, each holding a wreath in remembrance of practitioners who lost their lives. The parade concluded with the Chinese Waist Drummers, dressed in traditional gold attire, filling the air with vibrant, energizing beats.

Marching Through Melbourne

As the parade moved onto St Kilda Road, tram passengers watched us with smiles, some taking photos. We marched through Melbourne’s CBD, including Chinatown and the Mall, ending at the State Library of Victoria.

There, banners were displayed while local politicians and public figures delivered speeches about human rights abuses in China and their understanding of Falun Gong. Performances by the Tian Guo Marching Band and the Chinese Waist Drummers continued to lift everyone’s spirits.

Many attendees signed our petition, took information, or received lotus flower keepsakes symbolizing Truth, Compassion, and Tolerance.

Reflections at the July 20 Candlelight Vigil

Gathering at the Chinese Consulate

Sunday, July 20, 2025

I arranged my day to join the Melbourne Falun Dafa group at the candlelight vigil in front of the Chinese Consulate, located at the corner of Toorak Road and Irving Road. The weather was milder than usual for a Melbourne winter.

This vigil honours those who lost their lives defending their right to practice Falun Dafa, as well as those still imprisoned or suffering persecution in China. It’s our way of sending a peaceful message to the Chinese Government: end the persecution.

Honouring the Fallen With Peaceful Dignity

We were asked to wear our bright yellow jackets. As we arrived, we saw banners and battery-operated candles lining the curb. Many practitioners were already seated, some holding memorial photos.

I chose a mat near a photo of a young woman I recognized—Gao Rongrong. Her story, shared on Minghui.org, recounts the disfigurement and torture she endured in a labour camp.

Read her story: Gao Rongrong – Minghui.org

Creating a Peaceful Atmosphere

I sat in the half-lotus position for the three-hour vigil. A volunteer helped straighten the photo I held. As more people arrived, a quiet, sacred atmosphere took hold.

The flickering candles illuminated the banners and memorials. Some people stopped to read the stories or ask questions. Everything was reusable, stored carefully for future events.

Though I would have preferred to be elsewhere on a cold evening, I returned—like the candles—because it matters. I’m here out of respect for those who suffered or died for their beliefs, and to affirm that Falun Dafa is good.

Witnessing Courage and Enduring the Cold

“I just couldn’t believe a government of the whole nation… would suddenly turn totally against something which is beautiful, so good, which has benefited so many people.”
— Free China: The Courage to Believe
Watch the documentary

As I sat quietly, sometimes meditating, sometimes observing, I felt deeply moved. Some held banners with steady arms, others sat motionless in meditation. The wind barely stirred more than the people did.

Cars honked in support. Passengers peered out their windows, curious. My legs grew numb, but the discomfort was nothing compared to the pain endured by those persecuted in China. I reminded myself why I was here and carried on.

Closing the Vigil With Hope

At 8:15 pm, we began packing up. I returned my mat and the photo I held. Volunteers worked together to collect the candles and banners.

If the persecution in China ends this year, there will be no need for another vigil next year. That is our hope—that all can live in peace and harmony.

Until then, we continue to shine our light, with hope, compassion, and resilience.

~~~

Falun Dafa volunteers are currently holding free online classes where you can learn the exercises from the comfort of your own home. Register for a free Falun Dafa online exercise class here or for the Falun Dafa 9-Day Lecture Series here.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FREE ONLINE FALUN DAFA CLASS HERE

Learn Falun Gong—Australia & New Zealand’ is a website run by Australian & New Zealand Falun Dafa volunteers for the benefit of the general public. Falun Dafa is always taught free of charge.

Disclaimer: Individual results may vary. Information is provided as a guide only, and does not take the place of professional or medical advice.

Being Part of the July 20 Falun Dafa Parade and Candlelight Vigil in Melbourne