Famed Vietnamese-American Theravada Buddhist monk Venerable Pannakara Thera, who has garnered fame for leading peace walks across the US and more recently in Sri Lanka, today arrived in Delhi from Thailand to undertake a Walk for Peace in Nepal and India.

Also known as Su Tue Nhan, Ven. Pannakara Thera arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, accompanied by a delegation of venerable monks and Aloka, the formerly stray dog whose constant presence alongside the pilgrims has captured hearts and minds around the world and lent him considerable celebrity.

The arrival in India marks the beginning of their latest spiritual pilgrimage that will see the monks visit some of the most revered sites associated with the life of Shakyamuni Buddha. The pilgrims carry with them a message of peace, mindfulness, and loving-kindness for the world.

According to information shared across social media channels, the monks’ pilgrimage will take them to four key sites:

• Lumbini, the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama in Nepal
• Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained awakening
• Sarnath, where the Buddha delivered his first teaching after awakening
• Kushinagar, the site of the Buddha’s parinirvana

Ven. Pannakara Thera and the monks will also have meetings with Buddhist leaders and communities while in Delhi. Ven. Pannakara Thera delivered a Dhamma talk today at the New Delhi center of the Maha Bodhi Society of India (MBSI).

As always, Aloka’s presence has received as much public attention as his monastic companions, with fans around the world sharing his movements and expressing concern for his well-being.

One poster on the Walk for Peace’s official Facebook community group remarked:

Our fur monk, Aloka, is returning to India, the sacred place where his remarkable journey first began alongside Venerable Pannakara on the Walk for Peace. Through dusty roads, quiet villages, and countless miles of mindful walking, Aloka has remained a faithful companion, gently padding beside the monks with unwavering devotion. His calm eyes, gentle nature, and peaceful presence have brought smiles, comfort, and inspiration to countless people along the way. Wherever he has gone, he has quietly reminded us that kindness needs no words and that peace can be shared through the simple gift of presence.

As he returns to where it all began, we carry deep gratitude for the love and joy he has brought into so many lives. May Aloka continue to be a beacon of loving-kindness, compassion, and peace, touching hearts and bringing warmth wherever his paws may lead him.

And may we all be like Aloka, standing up for peace, walking together in mindfulness, and sharing loving-kindness with everyone we meet. Through our words, actions, and presence, may we help create a more peaceful world, one step at a time.

Ven. Pannakara Thero is the vice president of Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Center in Fort Worth, Texas. A former software engineer, he gave up his career to be ordained as a monastic and has since become a prominent advocate for peace and compassion through long-distance pilgrimages.

Between 2022 and 2023, he completed a 112-day Dhutanga pilgrimage through Nepal and India alongside approximately 100 monks, covering more than 3,400 kilometers through sacred sites associated with the life of the Buddha. It was during this journey that he encountered Aloka, a stray dog who would become a much-loved constant companion and mascot, following the monks from Kolkata to the Nepal border before being formally adopted and brought to the United States.

In October 2025, Ven. Pannakara Thero and a group of 19–24 monks launched their most ambitious undertaking: a 3,700-kilometer Walk for Peace across the United States. The pilgrimage traversed 10 states over 108 days, often walking barefoot through harsh weather conditions, including snowstorms and freezing temperatures.

Ven. Pannakara Thero’s message throughout was focused on compassion for all beings, finding peace within oneself, and encouraging people to live mindfully. The walk, which generated enormous public attention, concluded at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, where Ven. Pannakara Thero’ addressed thousands of supporters. 

Following the US pilgrimage, a delegation of monks led by Ven. Pannakara Thero continued the journey internationally, commencing a week-long walk across Sri Lanka on 22 April 2026, from the historic Dambulla Rajamaha Viharaya, accompanied by sacred Buddha relics and a Bodhi sapling. The delegation departed Sri Lanka on 29 April, heading back to the United States. 

See more

Walk for Peace (Facebook)
Walk for Peace – Official Community (Facebook)
Buddhist Monk In Delhi For Peace Walk (Deccan Chronicle)

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