Just over 100 days ago, in October 2025, a group of 19 Buddhist monks set off for a 2,300-mile trek across the United States, calling for peace.
They began in Fort Worth, Texas, with a final destination of Washington, D.C. They have just finished their stop in Richmond, Virginia, where they celebrated 100 days of the journey, with their sights now set on the final stop in D.C.
The journey, or “Peace Walk,” as the monks call it, will end with a gathering at the United States Capitol, where they’ll share remarks about healing and unity with the public.
The monks have traversed inclement weather and faced injuries, but nothing has deterred them from the matter at hand.
“I know that this journey is difficult, but I truly believe every single one of us can do this,” Venerable Monk Bhikku Pannakara, who is leading the journey, said in Richmond. “It’s not that hard as long as you believe in yourself. You can do it.”
As they entered Richmond this weekend, an estimated 10,000 people lined the streets to greet the monks. Some local police officers gave flowers to them as they walked past, and crowds chanted sentiments like “we love you,” or “thank you,” according to the Washington Post.
In aerial footage shared by the monks on social media, thousands are seen following in their footsteps — literally.
“From above, we can see the extraordinary sight — so many people walking together with us through the streets of Richmond. Many hearts moving as one, united in the spirit of compassion, mindfulness, and hope,” the monks wrote.
“We are so deeply grateful. Your presence, your steps, your willingness to walk for peace — it made this milestone day truly unforgettable.”
They were then honored in a gathering of state and local officials at Richmond’s City Hall, where newly-inaugurated Governor Abigail Spanberger made her first official proclamation as governor.
“As a new governor, this is the first proclamation that I have written,” she said, adding that it “recognizes the strength and the valor of these venerable monks … and the continued walk towards our nation’s capital.”
“They are serving as a powerful reminder to us that peace is a daily practice that begins within and radiates outward to families, communities, and nations,” Gov. Spanberger continued.
Spanberger took the opportunity to officially recognize Feb. 2, 2026, as Walk for Peace Day in the Commonwealth.
“I am so grateful and proud to present this proclamation to the venerable monks, thanking them for giving us the opportunity to come together, the opportunity for people of all faith backgrounds and beliefs, to join in a shared aspiration, to live with greater compassion, understanding, and goodwill.”
According to the group’s spokesman, Neeraj Bajracharya, the group has less than 200 miles until they reach their final destination in D.C. It looks like they will arrive in the nation’s capital on February 10, after crossing eight states since the start of their journey.
The immense showing in Virginia seems to have given the monks all the energy and inspiration they will need to make it to the finish line.
“To see thousands of people choosing to walk together for peace, to witness so many hearts unified in compassion and hope, to feel the power of that collective intention moving through the streets of Richmond — this was beyond anything we could have imagined,” they wrote in another Instagram post.
“You reminded us that peace is not just an idea — it is something we create together, step by step, heart by heart.”
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Header image courtesy of Peace Walk
