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From Indian streets and across continents: The incredible journey of Aloka, the ‘peace dog’, currently on a 2,300-mile walk

Believed to be an Indian Pariah, the dog initially began following Buddhist monks during their 112-day peace walk.

3 min readNew DelhiJan 5, 2026 04:47 PM IST

During the march, Aloka was struck by a car and later fell seriously ill (Image source: @Alokathepeacedog/Facebook)

An abandoned dog has become a symbol of peace, walking alongside Buddhist monks on a journey across continents, staying with them through illness, accidents, and thousands of miles on foot.

The story began during a 112-day peace walk across India, when a group of Buddhist monks came across a stray dog who appeared to choose them as his new family. Believed to be an Indian Pariah, the dog was named Aloka and soon began following the monks as they travelled for harmony and unity.

During the march, Aloka was struck by a car and later fell seriously ill. Concerned for his health, the monks placed him in a truck to give him respite from the demanding walk. However, Aloka leapt out of the vehicle and returned to the road.

“He followed us the whole time. He’s a true hero,” one of the monks said in a TikTok video, as reported by Good News Network. “He wanted to walk. That inspires a lot.”

Today, Aloka continues his mission with the monks, who are based at the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana in Fort Worth, Texas. In October, the group, comprising 19 monks and their canine companion, began a 2,300-mile walk from Fort Worth to Washington, DC, aimed at encouraging compassion, peace, and unity.

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“When I heard about this 2,300-mile walk, I was amazed,” Texas Representative Nicole Collier told the Star-Telegram. “It really touches the hearts and minds of people. We live in a time when the noise often drowns out understanding, where division can feel louder than unity—but this is what the community and interfaith solidarity looks like.”

The journey is expected to span 10 states over 110 days, concluding in Washington, DC, in February. By late December, the group had already reached Atlanta, the report added. Their progress is being tracked live on Facebook, while regular updates are shared on social media, where Aloka the Peace Dog also has his own Instagram account.

“It’s a journey filled with both known and unforeseen challenges,” the official Walk for Peace Instagram page said. “Yet, with hearts anchored in calmness and minds set firmly on their purpose, the monks move forward—step by step—embodying peace, resilience, and unwavering determination on their sacred path toward the White House.”