by  Senaka Weeraratna ( AI assisted)

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The Walk for Peace in the United States includes a specific objective to petition for the recognition of Vesak as a federal holiday. 

• The Mission: As part of their 2,300-mile pilgrimage from Texas to Washington, D.C., the group of Buddhist monks plans to ask Congress to declare Vesak—the day commemorating the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing—a national holiday.
• Purpose of the Request: Organizers state that official recognition would acknowledge Vesak as a day of reflection, compassion, and unity for all Americans, regardless of their religious background.
• Spiritual vs. Advocacy: While the holiday request is a tangible goal, the monks emphasize that their primary focus remains a spiritual offering to promote mindfulness and inner peace.
• Current Recognition: Although not yet a federal holiday, recent progress includes the White House hosting its first official Vesak celebration in 2021 and the Texas state government reportedly declaring May 15 as the 2026 Texas State Vesak Festival. 

The 120-day journey is scheduled to conclude at the Lincoln Memorial in mid-February 2026. 

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Note:

Senaka Weeraratna is an Attorney -at – Law, who has actively campaigned for the official recognition of Buddhism in non-Buddhist, particularly European, countries. He argues that the lack of official status leads to discriminatory treatment and disadvantages for Buddhist communities. 

Key Arguments and Proposals

Senaka Weeraratna has presented his arguments in various articles and an address delivered at the 28th General Conference of the World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) in Seoul, South Korea, in 2016. 

• Reciprocity: Weeraratna emphasizes that reciprocity should be a guiding norm in international relations and the granting of religious concessions. He contrasts the magnanimity of traditional Buddhist countries (e.g., Sri Lanka, which grants public holidays for other religions) with the lack of similar concessions for Buddhism in most European nations.
• Current Status in Europe: He notes that, as of his writings, only Russia, Austria, and Belgium have granted some form of official recognition to Buddhism in their constitutions or legal frameworks. Most other EU countries do not offer this status, which he views as a form of “step-motherly treatment”. Human Rights Fora especially the UNHRC platform in Geneva has become the favourite Happy Hunting Grounds for former Colonial Empires UK, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy among others to brow beat Sri Lanka on alleged discriminatory treatment of racial and religious minorities in the host country, while evading at every turn accountability for gross violation of Human Rights of the indigenous people especially the Sinhalese and Buddhism (as the prime target) and payment of Reparations and Repatriation of Stolen Artifacts vividly seen displayed to this day in the Museums of the former Colonial Masters.    
• Consequences of Non-Recognition: The absence of official recognition can result in various impediments to the practice and development of Buddhism, including:
  • Categorization of Buddhists as members of “sects” or “cults”.
  • Lack of access to public media or financial support provided to recognized religions.
  • Denial of the right to teach Buddhism in public schools.
  • Absence of public holidays for Buddhist significant days like Vesak.
  • Difficulties in constructing new temples (instead, using existing buildings is often the only option in some countries like the UK).
  • When Temples are allowed to be built if at all they cannot be built in the main thoroughfares like in France.
• Call for Action: Weeraratna has urged international Buddhist organizations, like the WFB, to lobby the international community and governments of non-Buddhist countries to grant official recognition to Buddhism and ensure equal rights for Buddhists. He advocates for the formation of a stronger, more united “League of Buddhist Nations” to function as an effective lobbying group, similar to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) or the European Union (EU) on behalf of their respective communities. 

His work primarily involves raising awareness and advocating for a change in legal and diplomatic policy, rather than a specific set of actions that led to immediate official recognition across Europe.  He has called for the use of Buddhist Diplomacy in the major countries that still claim a proud heritage of Buddhist Civilizations such as China, India, Japan, Vietnam, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Korea, Cambodia( Angkor Wat), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Laos, Singapore among others. 

The Walk for Peace has raised Buddhist Consciousness in people sympathetic to the cause of Buddhism showing a Global Role for Buddhism and Buddhist activists such as the new Superstar Monk Ven.  Bhikkhu Pannakara ( Theravada Buddhist monk of Vietnamese origin). 

See also 

Official recognition of Buddhism in non-Buddhist countries

Official recognition of Buddhism in non-Buddhist countries

Rising challenges to the Buddhist world

https://www.dailymirror.lk/opinion/rising-challenges-to-the-buddhist-world/172-47060

Voices of threatened Buddhists must be heard

https://www.vijayvaani.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?aid=4301

Global Buddhist Summit on Protection of Buddhism

Global Buddhist Summit on Protection of Buddhism

(HD)Buddhist Monks Walk for Peace 🕊️ | Inspirational Meditation Music | Mindful Journey

This song is dedicated to the monks who walk for peace.