{"id":235028,"date":"2026-05-18T09:13:38","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/235028\/"},"modified":"2026-05-18T09:13:38","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T09:13:38","slug":"more-than-1000-join-mindful-walk-across-brooklyn-bridge-for-nyc-buddhist-festival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/235028\/","title":{"rendered":"More Than 1,000 Join Mindful Walk Across Brooklyn Bridge For NYC Buddhist Festival"},"content":{"rendered":"

The annual event blended meditation, community wellness and fundraising support for families affected by autism.<\/p>\n

More than 1,000 people gathered in Brooklyn on Saturday for the 2nd Annual New York Buddhist Cultural Festival<\/a>, where participants crossed the Brooklyn Bridge in a mindful walk promoting mental wellness, community connection and support for families affected by autism.<\/p>\n

Hosted by the Western Buddhist Association<\/a>, this year\u2019s festival carried the theme \u201cA Mindful Walk for Wellness.\u201d The event began at Cadman Plaza Park with live mindfulness music from a jazz quintet and a group performance of \u201cYou Are My Sunshine\u201d by members of Project Ready.<\/p>\n

Organizers also handed out more than 1,000 \u201cMindfulness Beads\u201d bracelets to attendees before the walk began.<\/p>\n

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\nMore than 1,000 people crossed the Brooklyn Bridge in a mindful walk on the 16th. Photo: Supplied\/Jack Li for Western Buddhist Association <\/p>\n

Venerable Zhi Rui and Venerable Chang Kuan, abbot of the Western Buddhist Association, led participants through mindfulness exercises and sound meditation before the procession stepped onto the bridge around 10:30 a.m. as Buddhist chants echoed through the crowd.<\/p>\n

The group walked the roughly 1.1-mile span from Brooklyn into Manhattan before ending at City Hall Park with a prayer and dedication ceremony.<\/p>\n

Organizers said the festival also carried a charitable mission. For every participant who completed the walk, the association pledged to donate $1 to Project Ready to support individuals with autism and their families.<\/p>\n

Venerable Chang Kuan said the event was created to help people slow down in a stressful world.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany people in today\u2019s society have unease in their hearts, facing crises such as anxiety and stress,\u201d Chang Kuan said. \u201cI hope everyone will let go of distracting thoughts after participating in this event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Susan Zhuang, who represents Brooklyn\u2019s 43rd District, called the gathering an important reminder of the need for wellness and unity in the city.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn today\u2019s fast-paced world, it is more important than ever that we create spaces where people can come together, reflect, and support one another through mindfulness and compassion,\u201d Zhuang said.<\/p>\n

Lester Chang said the event highlighted the growing conversation around mental health and everyday stress.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryday we experienced stresses in life,\u201d Chang said. \u201cBuddhism can help balance mental and health wellness.\u201d<\/p>\n

William Colton praised the event for combining faith, public wellness and community outreach.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis event provides them with an opportunity to practice their faith in a way that reflects one of its main tenets \u2014 \u2018benefiting the self and others,\u2019\u201d Colton said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The festival also drew support from Buddhist leaders representing Chinese, Tibetan and Theravada traditions, along with religious leaders from other faith communities who joined in offering blessings throughout the day.<\/p>\n