On the morning of Feb. 14, in Eastover Park, thousands of people gathered to welcome the Walk for Peace monks home.
Supporters of all ages line the streets, many holding flowers. Fort Worth, Texas, February 14th, 2026. (TCU360/Emilyn Larson)
Fifteen weeks earlier, the monks left this same east Fort Worth neighborhood on foot. With no vehicles and few possessions, they began a 2,300-mile journey from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., walking to promote peace and mindfulness across communities.
What began as a quiet pilgrimage quickly gained national attention. Videos of the monks and their companion dog, Aloka, walking barefoot along highways and through small towns gained millions of views on platforms like TikTok.
Within weeks, the monks built a loyal online following, transforming their spiritual journey into a worldwide movement.
Saturday marked the final mile.
From Eastover Park, the monks began the last stretch toward their temple in East Fort Worth, just over a mile walk.
Supporters fell in behind them, with many holding handwritten signs reading “Welcome Home” and bouquets of flowers, so many that petals littered the street.
Dana Pisciotano, a Fort Worth native, said she felt compelled to attend after watching the movement grow over the past several months.
Young family poses for a picture as they watch the monks and their supporters march down the street, Fort Worth, Texas, February 14th, 2026. (TCU360/Emilyn Larson)
“I came out here because I think that this has caused, like, created a movement, I guess, around the country, around the world,” said Pisciotano.
For temple member Linh Nguyen, the walk represented something deeply personal. Nguyen said the monks’ journey embodies core Buddhist values of compassion, discipline and nonviolence.
“They showed patience. They showed kindness everywhere they went,” she said. “For our community, this is an amazing example of our faith.”
Nguyen pointed to the monks’ willingness to endure heat, rain and thousands of miles on foot as evidence of their commitment, one that resonated with practitioners and non-practitioners alike.
Those who gathered along the route represented a mix of faith traditions and backgrounds. Several languages could be heard throughout the park, and a priest in a clerical collar stood among Buddhist practitioners and neighborhood residents who came to watch.
As the group moved down the final block, police temporarily halted traffic while onlookers lined the sidewalk. Some followed closely behind the monks, while others stepped aside to observe. A few attendees raised their phones to record as the procession approached the temple entrance.
When the temple gates came into view, the crowd quieted. Supporters stepped forward to offer flowers before the monks crossed back onto temple grounds – the same place they had departed 15 weeks earlier.
After 2,301 miles, the walk ended where it began.