Nineteen Buddhist Monks Complete 2,000-Mile 'Walk for Peace' in Washington

Nineteen Buddhist monks completed a 108-day, 2,000-mile trek from Texas to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, arriving at the capital to advocate for mindfulness and the establishment of a new national holiday. The journey, which began on October 26, 2025, in Fort Worth, concluded with an interfaith service at the Washington National Cathedral and planned stops at the Lincoln Memorial and the Peace Monument on the U.S. Capitol grounds. The group, representing Theravada Buddhist monasteries from around the world, traveled through nine states in a single-file formation.

The expedition endured record-breaking winter temperatures and storms across the eastern United States. In November, the journey was interrupted when a truck struck the group's escort vehicle in Houston, Texas. The collision resulted in serious injuries to two monks, one of whom required a leg amputation. Despite the incident, the group continued the march, at times walking barefoot through snow and ice. The final five-mile leg of the journey began Tuesday morning in Arlington, Virginia, where the monks were greeted by onlookers as they crossed into the capital.

The spiritual leader of the walk, Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, stated that the goal of the journey was to encourage the practice of mindfulness and compassion. In addition to their message of peace, the monks intend to petition lawmakers to designate Buddha's birthday, known as Vesak, as a recognized national holiday. The group is scheduled to return to Fort Worth by bus on Saturday.