Hundreds of supporters lined the streets of east Fort Worth on Saturday morning to welcome the Buddhist monks home after their 2,300 mile Walk for Peace.
By 7 a.m., a large-sized group had already gathered at Eastover Park, where the monks were due to arrive. Someone scattered red and white rose petals on the road and several people were carrying bouquets of flowers.
Local area Buddhist monks arrive to greet monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace as they arrived back at the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Yvonne Hanson left her home in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, at 6 a.m. Thursday and drove more than 17 hours to so she could be on time to walk with the monks on the last leg of their journey from the park to their temple, the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center.
Hanson told the Star-Telegram that she’d been among the millions of people following the monks’ journey on social media.
“My heart just wanted to burst,” she said. “I just felt it was something I had to do.”
Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace arrive back at the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
More than 1,200 people packed the entrance and grounds of the center to welcome the Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace as they arrived back at the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Kristen Hackenberg from Cache, Oklahoma, contrasted the monks’ message of peace to the political divisions that continue to roil the nation.
“Look what we can do if we come together,” Hackenberg said.
Dragon dancers greeted the Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace as they arrived back at the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace arrive back to the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
The monks set off from the Fort Worth temple on Oct. 26. Clad in brown robes and carrying simple packs on their shoulders, they prepared to walk to Washington, D.C., on a mission to promote national healing and unity.
The trip took a total of 112 days. They returned to Fort Worth around 8:45 a.m. Saturday in a charter bus. The men were greeted by cheers from the onlookers, and the majority joined them for the approximately mile-and-a-half walk to the temple.
Several people along the walk route prayed for the Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace as they arrived back at the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Danielle Deraleau said she’s been following the walk online, and she’s been pleased to see how many people have turned out to support the monks in their various stops.
“It’s nice to see something online that makes me feel hopeful,” she said.
Hundreds fill the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday Feb. 14, 2026 to welcome home the Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Buddhist monks who walked nearly 2,300 miles to Washington D.C. for peace sit in the front of the Húóng Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2026. Bob Booth Special to the Star-Telegram
Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington, D.C., for peace should reach Charlotte by mid- to late next week, according to the group’s posts and maps on social media documenting their 2,300-mile journey.
“Let us walk together in spirit today — wherever you are, whatever you’re doing,” the group posted on Facebook Saturday morning as the 19 monks and Aloka the Peace Dogtrekked from Lexington, South Carolina, toward Columbia.
“With each mindful breath you take, with each compassionate choice you make, you are helping peace bloom more beautifully in this world,” the monks wrote.
With a crowd of followers, the group reached the State House in Columbia around 1:30 p.m.
“May you and all beings be well, happy and at peace,” the monks said in a video post.
Buddhist monks with the Walk for Peace chant before speaking with a crowd gathered at Nazareth Methodist Church in Leesville, SC. The Buddhist monks Walk for Peace stopped at the church to rest overnight after speaking to the crowd. Tracy Glantz tglantz@thestate.com
A map of their walk says the monks could arrive in Charlotte any day through Tuesday, Jan. 20. Measuring the daily distance they’ve covered on their 120-day journey, The Charlotte Observer figured the monks’ arrival at mid- to late next week. We’ll keep you posted.
The map also shows Greensboro and Raleigh, although the exact route is not included.
‘Couldn’t find parking’
One thing is certain: The monks draw crowds, so get ready, Charlotteans.
A Buddhist monk offers blessing bracelets to a crowd gathered at Nazareth Methodist Church on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. The monks rested for the night at the church while taking a break from their 2,300-mile Walk for Peace. Tracy Glantz tglantz@thestate.com
People drive from neighboring states as well to meet and kneel in prayer with them.
“We drove two hours to attend this event, but couldn’t find parking within several miles when we got there,” a woman posted on the monks’ Walk for Peace Facebook page on Friday with an emoji of hands clasped in prayer.
Although she never got close to the monks, “seeing so many people engaging this way brought me hope,” the woman said.
Local police and sheriff’s deputies in cars with sirens flashing escort the monks through their towns and counties — after they pose for photos and video with them.
A group of Buddhist monks walk along U.S. 378 in Saluda County with the Walk for Peace on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. The group of Buddhist monks is walking 2,300 miles, from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., spreading a message of peacefulness. Tracy Glantz tglantz@thestate.com
If you’re lucky enough to get close, the monks hand out free blessing cords — “a token of loving-kindness and peace,” according to the Walk for Peace website.
“I ask for your permission to lead this journey,” Pannakara said, sitting before a statue of the Buddha, according to the Star-Telegram. “In this journey, we have two senior monks — one from Laos who is 70 years old — and monks from Taiwan and Vietnam. Wherever we go, monks from that location will join us for two to three days,” he said.
See how to support the monks by visiting their website.
Anna Roman of The News & Observer contributed.
This story was originally published January 10, 2026 at 11:46 AM.
Joe Marusak has been a reporter for The Charlotte Observer since 1989 covering the people, municipalities and major news events of the region, and was a news bureau editor for the paper. He currently reports on breaking news. Support my work with a digital subscription
Nineteen Buddhist monks began a 2,300-mile walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., promoting national healing, unity and compassion on Sunday.
Shambhavi Rimal
srimal@star-telegram.com
Clad in brown robes, some barefoot, with simple packs in their shoulders, 19 Buddhist monks began their 2,300 miles walk of peace from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., to promote national healing, unity and compassion.
Community members lined up outside the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Sunday morning to bid them farewell. As the monks set out on their walk some community members bowed and touched their feet in respect while the chant “Buddham Saranam Gachhami” echoed through the temple.
Along with the monks, a dog found by Bhikkhu Pannakara, vice president of the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center and spiritual leader of the walk, during a similar walk in India, joined them on the journey on Sunday.
Bhikkhu Pannakara and fellow monks pray before beginning their walk for peace. Shambhavi Rimal srimal@star-telegram.com
“I ask for your permission to lead this journey,” Bhikkhu Pannakara said as he sat before a statue of Lord Buddha to pray before leading the walk. “In this journey, we have two senior monks —one from Laos who is 70 years old — and monks from Taiwan and Vietnam. Wherever we go, monks from that location will join us for two to three days,” he said.
During the 110 days journey the monks will travel across 10 states stopping at state capitols, historic landmarks, and local communities, said Dr. Neeraj Bajracharya, General Secretary of the Nepalese Buddhist Association.
Nineteen Buddhist monks began a 2,300-mile walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., promoting national healing, unity and compassion. Shambhavi Rimal srimal@star-telegram.com
They are planning to walk at least 20 miles per day, Bajracharya said. “Since today is the first day, and we started at 9:30 a.m., today’s journey will be about 14 miles.”
Following ascetic practices, the monks will sleep under the trees and eat one meal per day, Bajracharya said. Two RVs will ride along in the journey where the food for the monks will be prepared, he said.
“The reason we walk like this is because, over the last several decades, with all the wars, people have lost respect for life. Buddhism teaches respect for life and peace. In today’s society, people are angry, burned out, and killing each other. That’s why they hosted this walk for peace,” Haltom City Mayor An Truong said.
“When I heard about this 2300-mile walk I was amazed,” Texas Rep. Nicole Collier said. “It really touches the hearts and minds of people.”
The city of Fort Worth understands the importance and strength that comes from diversity, Collier said.
“We live in a time when the noise often drowns out understanding, where division can feel louder than unity – but this is what the community and interfaith solidarity looks like,” Collier said.
“This walk is about a vision for unity that doesn’t embrace our differences, but celebrates them.” Collier said.
“I’m so honored to be invited to your beautiful facility today and to feel of the peaceful spirit that all of you have as you are helping to prepare these amazing people to take this journey to Washington D.C.,” said Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints interfaith representative for the Fort Worth area, Christine Sturgeon.
“People of any faith make our community better, and your dedication and compassion for everyone is so inspiring to me,” Sturgeon said. “As my brothers prepare to take this arduous journey, I pray for their safety and for the weather to cooperate with their walk.”
Texas is home to an estimated 1.1 million Buddhists from diverse backgrounds, including Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, India, Nepal, Tibet, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Laos, according to a news release from Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center.
The Texas State Legislature recognized May 15 as Vesak Day during “Buddha Day at the Capitol,” celebrating interfaith harmony and cultural diversity, the release stated.
Shambhavi covers crime, law enforcement and other breaking news in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. She graduated from the University of North Texas and previously covered a variety of general assignment topics in West Texas. She grew up in Nepal.
