A 15-week ‘Walk for Peace’ concludes with Buddhist monks’ arrival in Washington

Washington– A group of Buddhist monks arrived in Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, walking alone across a bridge over the Potomac River to conclude a 15-week journey from Texas that captivated the country.

The saffron-robed monks have become a fixture on social media, along with their rescue dog Aluka. After spending Monday night at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, they crossed the Chain Bridge into the District of Columbia shortly after 8 a.m. Tuesday.

They are marching to defend peace. This simple message has resonated across the United States as a welcome respite from conflict and political division. Thousands gathered on southern roadsides – often in unusually cold weather – to watch the quiet procession of monks that began in late October.

They are expected to be welcomed by large crowds during their two-day stay in Washington. The Metropolitan Police Department issued a traffic warning announcing that there would be “continuous road closures” along the monks’ route to ensure their safety and that of onlookers.

“I hope that when this walk is over, the people we have met will continue to practice mindfulness and find peace,” said Venerable Bhikkhu Panakkara, the soft-spoken group leader who taught mindfulness at stops along the way.

The monks plan to mark the final days of their march for peace with an outdoor appearance at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday and the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.

“Their long journey and gentle witness call us all to deepen our commitment to compassion and to working for peace in our communities,” said Episcopal Bishop Marian Budd of Washington, who will help host an interfaith reception for the monks at the cathedral.

The monks were surprised to see their message transcending ideology. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have welcomed them in places, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.

Mark Duekers, a retired mechanical engineer who practices mindfulness, said he and his wife will drive 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Washington to see the monks.

“In these divisive times, we’ve seen entire cities in the Bible Belt coming out to these monks — they have no idea what Buddhism is — but they are touched and influenced by it,” he said. “This is inspiring.”

Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) journey from Havana’s Hong Dao Vipassana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the world, led by Panakkara, who serves as vice president of the Fort Worth temple.

While in the US capital, they plan to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak – Buddha’s birthday – a national holiday. But Panakkara and others stressed that this was not the goal of the march.

Temple spokesman Long Si Dong said the march is not a political movement and is not focused on advocacy or legislation.

He said: “It is a spiritual offering, and an invitation to live peace through daily actions, conscious steps, and open hearts.” “We believe that when peace is planted within, it naturally spreads outward into the community.”

The trip had its risks, and local law enforcement officers provided security. In November outside Houston, monks were walking on the side of the highway when their escort was struck by a truck. Two monks were injured. One of them had his leg amputated.

Some monks, including Panakkara, walked barefoot or in socks most of the journey to feel the earth directly and be present in the moment. Exposed to snow and cold, they sometimes wore winter boots.

Peace marches are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Panakkara first encountered Aluka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means “divine light” in Sanskrit, during a 112-day trek across India in 2022.

Monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by Buddha as essential to achieving enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection, observing breathing and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.

On Tuesday, the monks will complete 108 days of walking. It is a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and perfection of existence.

The monks’ return journey should be less arduous. After arriving at the Maryland State Capitol, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early Saturday.

From there, the monks will walk together again, covering the 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their journey began.

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Bharat reported from Los Angeles.
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