New Delhi: The 2,300-mile peace walk by Buddhist monks that culminated in Washington, D.C., this week, has thrown up an unlikely star—one that has quickly turned into an internet sensation.
Aloka, a rescued Indian pariah dog, became an inseparable part of the monks’ journey, drawing attention from millions across the United States and beyond. Far from being a one-time companion, Aloka, who was rescued while accompanying monks during a peace trek in India, has stayed with them ever since, undertaking many peace marches.
Popularly known as the “peace dog”, Aloka has now emerged as a canine influencer, with nearly 4.61 lakh followers on Instagram through the handle @alokathepeacedog.
In one of his earliest viral videos, the dog—estimated to be around four years old—is seen energetically leading the monks. The video has garnered over two million views.
In one post, the monks wrote, “Though his exact birthday remains a mystery, his loyalty and peaceful spirit are clear to everyone he meets.”
The monks’ 108-day pilgrimage, which began in Fort Worth, Texas, concluded in Washington, D.C., on 11 February, aiming to promote peace, compassion, and non-violence across the United States. It concluded with inter-faith discussions at the Washington National Cathedral.
According to their leader, Bhikkhu Paññākāra, the objective of the US walk was not to deliver peace directly, but to encourage people to discover inner peace through mindfulness.
Apart from undertaking long marches, the monks—associated with the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre and drawing from Vietnamese Buddhist traditions—practise Vipassana meditation as part of their global peace outreach.
During the Washington, D.C., visit, one of the monks’ key appeals to US lawmakers was to recognise Vesak—the day commemorating the birth of the Buddha—as a national holiday. Bhikkhu Paññākāra has also indicated that similar long-distance peace walks may be organised every three years, though no future routes have been announced.
Beginning the expedition on 26 October, the group travelled through Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia before reaching Washington, D.C.
The journey, however, was far from smooth. An accident near Dayton, Texas, saw a truck strike the monks’ escort vehicle, leaving two monks injured. Aloka too faced a setback, undergoing orthopaedic surgery for a knee injury that briefly forced him off the route.
Following a successful procedure at a veterinary referral centre in South Carolina, the ‘peace dog’ quickly rejoined the group and marched alongside the monks to the finish. Even temperatures plunging to minus seven degrees Celsius could not slow him down, as he completed the journey with his trademark cheer and energy.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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