The Walk for Peace, led by Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, has reached the halfway point of a 2,300‑mile journey after 83 days. The 18‑monk group departed Fort Worth on 26 October, stopping at state capitols and drawing large crowds while building more than one million social media followers. The walkers plan to petition Congress to recognize Vesak as a federal holiday; the trek has also faced serious setbacks, including a vehicle collision that led to an amputation and surgery for the team’s rescue dog, Aloka.
Buddhist Monks Reach Halfway Point in 2,300‑Mile Walk for Peace Across the US
The Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra leads Buddhist monks as they continue their Walk for Peace in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Thursday.Photograph: Sean Rayford/Getty Images(Photograph: Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
After 83 days on the road, a group of Buddhist monks has reached the midpoint of a 2,300‑mile Walk for Peace across the United States, carrying a message of peace, loving kindness and compassion to communities from Texas to Washington, D.C.
Led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Paññākāra, who walks barefoot and heavily bandages his feet each day to treat wounds from rocks, nails and glass, the 18‑member group left a Vietnamese Buddhist temple in Fort Worth, Texas, on 26 October. They have passed through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, pausing at the capitol of each state to meet crowds often numbering in the thousands.
Goal and Outreach
When the walk reaches Washington, D.C., the monks plan to ask Congress to recognize Vesak — the Buddha's birth and enlightenment day — as a federal holiday. Their message and route have resonated widely: the walk's social media profiles have attracted more than one million followers and drawn attention from across the country and around the world.
Discipline and Hardship
Two of the monks are observing dhutanga, a traditional ascetic discipline that restricts them to three postures — walking, standing or sitting — and forbids lying down even to sleep. According to the walk's government liaison and press coordinator, Neeraj Bajracharya, those monks sit in meditation through the night to restore their energy.
The trek has not been without danger. Three weeks after setting out, a truck struck the group's escort vehicle and shoved it into two monks; one later underwent an amputation. Bajracharya said the injured monk is receiving care and is 'doing fine.'
Aloka the Rescue Dog
Aloka, a dog rescued by Paññākāra in India in 2022, joined the walk in October but aggravated a pre‑existing leg injury and required surgery in South Carolina. He rejoined the group in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will be reintroduced gradually — approximately 10 minutes of walking at a time, six times a day — while he recovers. A recently posted video of Aloka reuniting with the monks attracted more than 200,000 likes and highlighted the emotional bond between the team and their supporters.
Public Reaction
Bajracharya described an outpouring of support: 'It's amazing how the response has been. We are getting calls from all over the world.' He emphasised that the Walk for Peace is grounded in 'peace, unity, compassion and healing' and aims to reach people across the United States.
'We are planning to go to Washington DC, because Washington DC is the heart of the nation. By reaching to the heart of the nation, we believe that we can reach to the heart of all Americans,' said Neeraj Bajracharya.
The Walk for Peace continues toward Washington, D.C., with regular public events at state capitols and ongoing medical care and logistical support for the team and Aloka as they press forward.
Help us improve.
