19 Monks Arrive in Washington After 15-Week, 2,300-Mile Walk for Peace

Nineteen Buddhist monks from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth concluded a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace after a 15-week, 108-day trek when they entered Washington, D.C., crossing the Chain Bridge over the Potomac shortly after 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. The procession walked single file across the bridge into the District, and thousands of people lined icy sidewalks to greet the monks in saffron robes and their rescue dog, Aloka.

The walk began on Oct. 26, 2025, at the Fort Worth temple and included monks from Theravada monasteries around the world. The group was led by Pannakara, who also serves as vice president of the Fort Worth temple; Pannakara gave peace talks during stops and at times walked barefoot or in socks to remain present to the ground. Organizers described the journey as both a 15-week pilgrimage and a 108-day practice, with 108 noted as a sacred number representing spiritual completion in Buddhist tradition.

Temple spokesperson Long Si Dong framed the trek as expressly spiritual rather than political: "It's a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts. We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society." The monks said they will present a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak, Buddha's birthday, a national holiday, while repeatedly emphasizing that petitioning is not the primary purpose of the walk. Pannakara's talks at public stops urged listeners to put down their phones and cultivate inner calm so peace can arise from within.

The group faced severe challenges on the road. In November, while walking near Houston, their escort vehicle was struck by a truck; two monks were injured and one suffered an amputation of a leg. Organizers said that monk has since rejoined the group. The monks also faced snow and cold on portions of the route and alternated between walking barefoot or in socks and wearing winter boots as conditions required. Local law enforcement provided escorts and traffic support throughout the trek.

Before entering the District, the monks spent a night at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia. Their Washington itinerary included a planned walk through Capitol Hill, a closing ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial, and an appearance at Maryland's Capitol; after those events organizers said a bus would return the group to Texas. Organizers expected to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on the following Saturday and then walk six miles back to the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center for a final return-to-temple segment.

Social attention followed the walk throughout its route. The monks and Aloka became fixtures on social media with millions following parts of the journey online, and coverage included drone imagery of the procession in Virginia. A drone photo caption described "a group of two dozen Buddhist monks," a discrepancy with the reported figure of nineteen who began the walk from Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. Spectators at the Chain Bridge and elsewhere posted that the visit "gave me hope," and ABC7's video coverage captured viewers saying the journey offered a tangible reminder of mindful, conscientious compassion.