PHOTOS: Buddhist monks travel through Atlanta on ‘Walk for Peace’

Metro Atlanta

PHOTOS: Buddhist monks travel through Atlanta on ‘Walk for Peace’

The men “raise awareness of peace, loving kindness, and compassion across America and the world,” their website says.

Buddhist monks continue their “Walk for Peace” in Decatur on Tuesday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks were met by thousands of people lining the streets. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Buddhist monks wave to onlookers during the “Walk for Peace” in Decatur on Tuesday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Nearly 20 Buddhist monks and a rescue dog named Aloka visited Decatur on Tuesday while trekking from Texas to Washington, D.C. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Bundled in blankets and jackets, many gatherers said they were happy to wait hours to see the monks. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

People line the streets of Decatur to see the Buddhist monks on their “Walk for Peace” on Tuesday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks have spent days walking through metro Atlanta. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks spent much of Tuesday in DeKalb County, eating lunch in south Atlanta’s Panthersville neighborhood. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Crowds line the Decatur streets to see the Buddhist monks on their “Walk for Peace” on Tuesday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Sen. Raphael Warnock joined the monks in prayer as they rested for a bit. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Sen. Raphael Warnock gifts an MLK Jr. pin to a Buddhist monk during a break from his “Walk for Peace.” (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson addressed the crowd and the monks in Decatur. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

“This rock star kind of reception is something they are not used to,” said Long Si Dong, who acts as spokesperson for "Walk for Peace." (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks take a break on their “Walk for Peace.” (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks started their walk in Texas and are on their way to Washington D.C., with nearly a thousand miles to go. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Thousands of people wave to the monks as they travel through Decatur. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

People gather to listen to a Buddhist prayer as the monks take a break on their journey. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

People listen to a Buddhist prayer as the monks take a break on their “Walk for Peace” in Decatur. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks take a break from their “Walk for Peace” in Decatur. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Spectators listen to a Buddhist prayer. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Some monks wore more traditional sandals, but others opted for more walking-friendly footwear. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

People record videos of the Buddhist prayer during the monks' break. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

Buddhist monks pass through Decatur on their “Walk for Peace” on Tuesday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

The monks are treated like "rock stars" as they pass through Decatur. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

As the monks make their way through Trilith in Fayetteville on Monday, thousands of well-wishers waited to greet them. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

One of the Buddhist monks waves at the crowd greeting them in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Crowds of people greet and take photos of the Buddhist monks as they pass through Trillith. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Some people, like this woman prayed for the monks as they walked past. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

One monk accepts an offering from a little girl on Veterans Parkway in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Bystanders greet Buddhist monks on their “Walk for Peace” along Veterans Parkway in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

The monks wave to onlookers while on their “Walk for Peace." (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A bystander watches as the monks make their way along Hood Road in Fayetteville on Monday. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Aloka takes a break with the monks, who address the crowd at Trilith in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Bystanders greet the monks as they travel along Veterans Parkway. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Buddhist monks hand out peace bracelets during a break in their “Walk for Peace” at Trilith in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Buddhist monks take a break in their “Walk for Peace” at Trilith in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Buddhist monks speak during a break in their “Walk for Peace” at Trilith. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

A Buddhist monk is seen in an RV as his companions give a Buddhist talk during a break in their “Walk for Peace” at Trilith in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Despite the temperature, a Buddhist monk removes his shoes during a break in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Wrapped in blankets and coats, attendees listen to what the monks have to say. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

One of the monks notices a sign thanking him and his group for "walking for peace." (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Buddhist monks greet onlookers while on their “Walk for Peace” through Trilith in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

People line up early along Veterans Parkway to greet the monks as they travel through Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

Buddhist monks greet onlookers while on a “Walk for Peace” walk through Trilith in Fayetteville. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

“It doesn’t matter what background we are, what faith we believe, what skin color we have or what language we speak,” said the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, who leads the group. “We all have the same blood color of red.” (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

As of Tuesday, the monks still had about 1,000 miles to go on their “Walk for Peace.” (Arvin Temkar/AJC)

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Credit: abbey.cutrer@ajc.com

Buddhist monks continue their “Walk for Peace” in Decatur on Tuesday. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

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