A 15-week 'Walk for Peace' concludes with Buddhist monks' arrival in Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — A group of Buddhist monks reached Washington, D.C., on foot Tuesday, walking single file across a bridge over the Potomac River to cap a 15-week trek from Texas that has captivated the country.

The monks in their saffron robes have become fixtures on social media, along with their rescue dog Aloka. After spending Monday night at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia, they crossed over the Chain Bridge into the District of Columbia shortly after 8 a.m.

They walk to advocate for peace. That simple message has resonated across the U.S. as a welcome respite from conflict and political divisions. Thousands gathered along Southern roadsides — often in unusually chilly weather — to watch the monks’ quiet procession that began in late October.

Large crowds are expected to greet them during their two-day stay in Washington. The Metropolitan Police Department issued a traffic advisory announcing there would be “rolling road closures” along the monks' route to ensure safety for them and spectators.

“My hope is, when this walk ends, the people we met will continue practicing mindfulness and find peace,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, the group’s soft-spoken leader who has taught about mindfulness at stops along the way.

Nearly 3,500 people packed American University’s Bender Arena for the monks’ first public stop in Washington. But no raucous sports cheers greeted them: Spectators remained silent as they walked into the arena, as a sign of respect for the monks and their quest for peace.

Pannakara walked in with Aloka, a celebrity in his own right, who rested on a blanket that organizers had placed on the basketball court.

The trek has had its perils. In November outside Houston, the monks were walking on the side of a highway when their escort vehicle was hit by a truck. Two monks were injured; Venerable Maha Dam Phommasan had his leg amputated.

Phommasan, abbot of a temple in Snellville, Georgia, rejoined the monks in Washington and entered American University’s arena in a wheelchair.

The monks also plan outdoor appearances at Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday afternoon and the Lincoln Memorial on Wednesday.

“Their long journey and gentle witness invite us all to deepen our commitment to compassion and the work of peace in our communities,” said Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde, who will help host an interfaith reception for the monks at the cathedral.

Nineteen monks began the 2,300-mile (3,700-kilometer) journey from the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth on Oct. 26, 2025. They came from Theravada Buddhist monasteries around the globe, led by Pannakara, who is vice president of the Fort Worth temple.

The monks have been surprised to see their message transcend ideologies. Millions have followed them online, and crowds have greeted them at numerous venues, from a church in Opelika, Alabama, to City Hall in Richmond, Virginia.

Mark Duykers, a retired mechanical engineer who practices mindfulness, said he and his wife were driving 550 miles (885 kilometers) from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Washington to see the monks.

“In these divisive times, we saw entire towns in the Bible Belt coming out for these monks — having no idea of what Buddhism is — but being uplifted and moved by it,” he said. “That’s inspirational.”

While in the U.S. capital, they plan to submit a request to lawmakers to declare Vesak — Buddha’s birthday — a national holiday. But, Pannakara and others have emphasized that is not the goal of the walk.

Long Si Dong, a spokesperson for the temple, said the walk is neither a political movement nor is it focused on advocacy or legislation.

“It’s a spiritual offering, an invitation to live peace through everyday actions, mindful steps and open hearts,” he said. “We believe when peace is cultivated within, it naturally ripples outward into society.”

Some of the monks, including Pannakara, have walked barefoot or in socks for most of the journey to feel the ground directly and be present in the moment. As they have pressed on through snow and cold, they’ve at times donned winter boots.

Peace walks are a cherished tradition in Theravada Buddhism. Pannakara first encountered Aloka, an Indian Pariah dog whose name means “divine light” in Sanskrit, during a 112-day journey across India in 2022.

The monks practice and teach Vipassana meditation, an ancient Indian technique taught by the Buddha as core to attaining enlightenment. It focuses on the mind-body connection, observing breath and physical sensations to understand reality, impermanence and suffering.

On Tuesday, the monks will complete 108 days of walking. It’s a sacred number in Buddhism, Hinduism and Jainism. It represents spiritual completion, cosmic order and the wholeness of existence.

The monks’ return trip should be less arduous. After an appearance at Maryland’s Capitol, a bus will take them back to Texas, where they expect to arrive in downtown Fort Worth early on Saturday.

From there, the monks will walk together again, traversing 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) to the temple where their trip began.

Bharath reported from Los Angeles.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Spectators watch as Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace walk through a neighborhood on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace are escorted by Metropolitan Police Department officers as they walk along the C&O Canal and Potomac River on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Monk Bhikkhu Pannakara waves as Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace walk through a neighborhood on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace walk through a neighborhood on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Buddhist monks who are participating in a Walk For Peace are escorted by Metropolitan Police officers as they walk along the C&O Canal and Potomac River on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are flirting with records on Wall Street Tuesday following a mixed set of profit reports from big U.S. companies, as Hasbro soars but Coca-Cola slips. Hopes are also building that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates later this year to boost the economy following a discouraging report on the strength of U.S. shoppers.

The S&P 500 rose 0.1% after drifting earlier between modest gains and losses. At one point, it was sitting just above its all-time high set a couple weeks ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was adding 253 points, or 0.5%, to its own record, as of 10:15 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was virtually flat.

The action was stronger in the bond market, where Treasury yields fell after a report showed U.S. retailers made less money at the end of last year than economists expected. Shoppers spent roughly the same amount in December as they did in November, less than the modest growth that economists expected.

That could be a signal that spending by U.S. households, which is the main engine of the economy, may be losing momentum. It also comes ahead of two more anticipated reports coming later in the week. On Wednesday, the U.S. government will give the latest monthly update on the unemployment rate, while a Friday report will show how bad inflation is for U.S. consumers.

Altogether, the data should help the Federal Reserve decide what to do with interest rates. The Fed has put its cuts to interest rates on hold, and too-hot inflation could keep it on pause for a long time. But a weakening of the job market, on the other hand, could push it to resume cuts more quickly.

One of the reasons the U.S. stock market has remained close to records is the expectation that the Fed will continue cutting interest rates later this year. Lower rates can give the economy a boost, though they can also worsen inflation. Following Tuesday’s disappointing report on sales at U.S. retailers, traders upped bets that the Fed could cut interest rates three times or more this year, according to data from CME Group. Most still see two cuts as more likely.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.14% from 4.22% late Monday.

On Wall Street, mixed reactions to the latest profit reports from big U.S. companies helped to keep the market relatively in check.

Coca-Cola fell 1.4% after its growth in revenue for the latest quarter fell short of analysts’ expectations. It also gave a forecasted range for growth this upcoming year for an important underlying measure of growth whose midpoint was less than analysts’ expectations.

S&P Global dropped 6.9% after giving a forecast for profit in the upcoming year that fell short of analysts’ expectations. The company famous for its stock indexes has been struggling recently with worries that competitors powered by artificial-intelligence technology may steal customers for its data services. Its stock came into the day with a loss of 15% for the year so far.

But Hasbro jumped 7.9% after topping analysts’ expectations for profit and revenue in the latest quarter. The toymaker credited strength for its Magic: The Gathering game in particular, and it announced a program to send up to $1 billion of cash to investors by buying back its own stock.

DuPont rose 3.5% after the chemical giant reported better results for the latest quarter than analysts expected. It also gave a forecast for profit in 2026 that topped analysts’ expectations.

Outside of earnings reports, Warner Bros. Discovery climbed 2% after Paramount said it upped its offer to buy the entertainment company.

Paramount said it will increase its offer of $30 per share by 25 cents per share for each quarter that its buyout has not closed past the end of this year. It’s to show how confident Paramount is that its deal would get an OK from regulators at the government. Paramount also said it would pay $2.8 billion to help Warner Bros. Discovery get out of its buyout deal with Netflix.

Paramount Skydance’s stock added 1.5%, while Netflix rose 3.1%.

In stock markets abroad, Japan’s Nikkei 225 rallied for a second day on expectations that a newly elected parliament will help the country’s prime minister push through tax cuts and other moves to boost the economy and markets. The Nikkei 225 rose 2.3% to another record.

Gains for other Asian markets were more modest, while indexes were mixed in Europe.

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed.

Trader Michael Milano works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Trader Chris Lagana works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, as the Dow Jones industrial average closed above the 50,000 level for the first time. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Specialist Anthony Matesic works at his post on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Currency traders watch monitors near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top center left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top right, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

A person walks in front of an electronic stock board showing Japan's Nikkei index at a securities firm Monday, Feb. 9, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Currency traders work near a screen showing the Korea Composite Stock Price Index (KOSPI), top center, and the foreign exchange rate between U.S. dollar and South Korean won, top left, at the foreign exchange dealing room of the Hana Bank headquarters in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)