Social media went crazy for Buddhist monks’ Columbia Walk for Peace this weekend
Thousands turned out on the streets of Columbia on Saturday to watch as the cross-country Walk for Peace passed through South Carolina’s capital city.
Two dozen Buddhist monks and Aloka the Peace Dog have been walking from their home temple in Texas since late October, with the goal of reaching Washington, D.C. on foot next month. After entering South Carolina last week, the procession has garnered outsized attention everywhere the monks have traveled.
Large crowds gathered to accompany the monks over the Gervais Street bridge as they entered Columbia, and they gave a peace talk to throngs of onlookers from the steps of the State House before heading north on Main Street toward their next destination in Charlotte, which they hope to reach later this week.
The walk has captured the imagination of many in South Carolina and beyond, and the monks have attracted a wide variety of people who turn out to greet them everywhere they have gone in the Palmetto State. That’s been reflected in the social media reaction the visit has seen.
Even on narrow country roads people have gathered to watch the monks pass, handing them flowers and bottles of water on their journey. Crowds lined Main Street for blocks Saturday to see the monks pass once they reached Columbia.
Saturday’s visit by the monks drew a huge crowd to the State House grounds. Estimates were not available, but the crowd appeared to be much larger than the estimated 2,000 who attended the No Kings Rally on the S.C. State House grounds earlier this year.
After arriving at the capitol, the monks lined up on the south steps of the building, as a throng of people covered the south lawn in front of them.
Many people stood at the base of monuments and on the side of the steps to get a better view. Children climbed into small trees across from the Senate office building to see the monks. The crowd was peaceful and filled with a variety of people, from the elderly to college students and families.
Several dignitaries, including Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann, attended. He spoke from the capitol steps, recognizing the many people who filled the Gervais Street bridge during the monks’ walk to the State House.
People from, ”all walks of life, from every corner across this city and state” showed up to experience the monks’ trek and visit, the mayor said. “Let’s welcome the monks to South Carolina,’’ Rickenmann said enthusiastically as the crowd cheered.
The monks will continue to travel through South Carolina for a few more days. Anyone who hasn’t seen the Walk for Peace in person yet can track the monks’ movements using their live online map updated daily.
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 10:07 AM.
.jpg)