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

Source: kcrg.com



By TIFFANY STANLEY and DEEPA BHARATH


Published: Feb. 10, 2026 at 10:55 AM CST|Updated: 18 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Buddhist monks reached Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, walking single file across a bridge over the Potomac River to cap a 15-week trek from Texas that has captivated the country.

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

They walk to advocate for peace. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands gathered along Southern roadsides — often in unusually chilly weather — to watch the monks’ quiet procession that began in late October.

“My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group’s soft-spoken leader who has taught about mindfulness at stops along the way.
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Read more: https://www.kcrg.com/2026/02/10/15-week-walk-peace-concludes-with-buddhist-monks-arrival-washington/

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Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace walk through a neighborhood on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)(Mark Schiefelbein | AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

The group of Buddhist monks is set to reach Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday. The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka. n.pr/45WkCB4

— NPR (@npr.org) 2026-02-10T09:33:48.208649Z

LIVE: Monks on a Walk for Peace arrive in Washington, DC youtube.com/live/K6Or-Lx...

— Reuters (@reuters.com) 2026-02-10T13:35:35.778Z