(VOVWORLD) - A group of 24 Buddhist monks and their rescue dogs arrived in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday after walking barefoot for more than three months through nine US states in freezing temperatures, completing a 3,700-km journey they called the “Walk for Peace.”
 Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara leads the "Walk for Peace," a group of two dozen Buddhist monks who are walking from Texas to Washington, D.C., in Fredericksburg, Virginia, February 6, 2026. (Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein) |
The monks set out from Texas in late October 2025. Organisers described the trek as both a physical challenge and a symbol of healing during a period of social instability. The journey drew millions of followers on social media and attention from residents along the route.
The group continued despite record snow storms and severe cold. In November, a traffic accident in Texas left one monk with part of his leg amputated, marking the most serious incident of the trip. The monks said their message of compassion and patience resonated with Americans seeking hope.
"Let peace bloom and flourish among all of us throughout this nation and the world, so that this world can become a better place for all beings to live," said Bhikkhu Pannakara, the spiritual leader of the Walk for Peace programme.
The monks were not travelling for missionary or political reasons, said Pannakara, but “to awaken the peace that already lives within each of us.”
After reaching Washington, the group planned to stay for two days to meet religious and city leaders and to visit the Washington National Cathedral.