Washington, D.C., February 12, 2026 – After walking 2,300 miles over 110 days, a group of Buddhist monks concluded their extraordinary Walk for Peace with powerful ceremonies in Washington, D.C. and Maryland's capital, drawing tens of thousands who gathered to witness a spiritual journey that transcended religious and political boundaries.
Led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the 19 Vietnamese Theravada Buddhist monks completed their pilgrimage from Fort Worth, Texas to the nation's capital, inspiring millions along the way with their message of mindfulness, compassion, and inner peace.
Three Days of Historic Gatherings
The monks' final days in the capital region saw unprecedented turnout and official recognition.
On Tuesday, February 10, nearly 3,500 people filled American University's Bender Arena in silent reverence as the monks walked through. Later that evening, thousands more gathered at Washington National Cathedral for an interfaith ceremony attended by over 100 Buddhist monks and nuns, along with Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde and other faith leaders.
“This was the moment I will remember for the rest of my life,” Pannakara said of the cathedral gathering.
Wednesday's events centered on the Lincoln Memorial, where thousands assembled for the concluding ceremony. The monks began their day at the Peace Monument on Capitol Hill at 9:30 AM, met with members of Congress including Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), then processed from St. Mark's Capitol Hill Church to the Lincoln Memorial.
In his speech at the memorial, Pannakara invited the crowd to “live five seconds of your life with mindfulness,” emphasizing that inner peace naturally creates positive effects in society.
Maryland's Unexpected Finale
In a last-minute addition, the monks walked through Annapolis on February 12, where an estimated 12,000 people lined the streets from Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to the Maryland State House. Another 6,000 gathered at the capitol building itself.
“Annapolis holds a special place as the nation's first peacetime capital,” Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller said in welcoming the monks. Governor Wes Moore and First Lady Dawn Moore hosted the monks for a private lunch at Government House, and both chambers of the Maryland legislature presented resolutions honoring their journey.
Maryland became the latest in a series of official proclamations, following similar declarations from Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
A Journey Marked by Tragedy and Resilience
The walk was not without hardship. On November 19, 2025, near Dayton, Texas, a truck struck the group's escort vehicle, pushing it into two monks. Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan suffered severe injuries requiring amputation of his lower leg and foot in early December.
Despite the life-changing injury, Maha Dam rejoined the group near Washington in a wheelchair, embodying the resilience that defined the entire journey.
The monks also faced extreme winter conditions, including snowstorms and recent record-breaking cold temperatures. Throughout it all, they maintained their daily pace of over 20 miles, with three monks—including Pannakara—walking much of the journey barefoot or in socks.
Viral Impact and Diverse Reception
The Walk for Peace gained extraordinary traction on social media. The movement's Facebook page, created on November 8, 2025, reached 1 million followers by January 11 and hit 2 million just 11 days later. As of February 12, the movement has 2.8 million Facebook followers and 1.9 million Instagram followers.
“What's remarkable is how this movement has transcended political and religious ideologies,” said one observer in North Carolina, where Governor Josh Stein became the first governor to meet the monks and declare a “Walk for Peace Day” on January 24.
The monks were greeted by enthusiastic crowds throughout their route through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, and into the capital region.
Aloka: The Peace Dog
A beloved companion on the journey was Aloka, a former stray from India whose name means “divine light” in Sanskrit. The dog had joined Pannakara during a previous 112-day walk across India in 2022 and developed a substantial social media following. On January 12, 2026, Aloka underwent free veterinary surgery for a chronic leg issue and continued the journey.
A Secondary Mission
While in Washington, the monks planned to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak—Buddha's birthday—a national holiday. However, organizers emphasized this was not the primary goal of their journey.
“This walk is about offering mindfulness and inner peace to all people,” Pannakara explained. “We practice Vipassana meditation not as a political movement, but as a spiritual offering to society.”
Return to Texas
Following the Annapolis ceremony, the monks were scheduled to board a bus back to Fort Worth, arriving Saturday to complete the final 6 miles on foot to their origin point at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center.
Throughout their journey, the monks maintained daily “peace sharing talks” at rest stops, distributed “peace bracelets” as symbols of protection and blessings, and welcomed the public to walk alongside them.
The Walk for Peace demonstrated that in an era of division, a message of mindfulness and compassion can resonate across all boundaries, drawing millions together in the simple pursuit of inner peace.
