Meet Aloka, the Indian stray dog winning hearts for its ‘Walk of Peace’

Indian street dog Aloka is marching alongside Buddhist monks for 'Walk Of Peace' (Photo: Instagram/alokathepeacedog)

An Indian stray dog is now a global phenomenon. Yes, we are talking about Aloka, the adorable dog that is winning netizens’ hearts with its sacred walk. At first, it walked for nearly 100 days, in every possible nook and cranny of the country, following the monks and matching their pace through towns, forests, and villages. Now, months later, Aloka is walking across the United States on a 3,700 km Walk of Peace alongside 19 monks, embodying the message of peace.

That’s not it. The fan following has earned Aloka dedicated social media accounts, where fans are updated about its ongoing journey across the United States.

“His journey is truly special. He was once a stray wandering in India who began following the Venerable Monks. He walked with them for over 100 days across India, much like the #WalkForPeace we are participating in today! Though his exact birthday remains a mystery, his loyalty and peaceful spirit are clear to everyone he meets,” reads a Facebook post on a page titled ‘Aloka The Peace Dog.’

Even on Instagram, where Aloka has over one lakh followers, the peace walk with the monks is being tracked with fresh updates. There is a live map for fans to track Aloka’s journey as it progresses. Starting from Fort Worth in October 2025, the 110-day, 10-state journey will culminate in Washington, DC, this February.

According to the Facebook page, Aloka is likely to be an Indian Pariah dog. “Many people often ask about Aloka’s breed! While we aren’t exactly sure, we estimate he is about 4 years old and likely an Indian Pariah dog.”

The Indian Pariah Dog is widely regarded as one of the oldest landrace breeds, believed to have existed in the Indian subcontinent for approximately 15,000 years. Genetic studies place them among the earliest domesticated dogs, resilient, intelligent, and well-adapted to tropical climates. Their lineage predates modern pedigree breeds introduced during the colonial period.

Far from being street dwellers, Pariah dogs have traditionally held a quiet but dignified place in Indian society: Scientifically, the Indian Pariah dog, or an Indie, is known for friendly qualities exhibited by Aloka, while journeying in India or abroad. Here’s how : The Walk of Peace, organised by the Huong Dao Vipassana Bhavana Centre, is a spiritual pilgrimage across 10 US states. It began in Fort Worth in October 2025 and will conclude in Washington, DC, this February. The monks walk as meditation, taking slow, mindful steps with chants of loving-kindness and pauses to engage with communities along the route. It is a 110–120-day journey built around principles of non-violence, unity, and inner harmony.

Aloka has become both participant and mascot of this extraordinary journey. His presence, the monks say, is a reminder that peace is not just a human pursuit. On Instagram, the monks wrote: “He is a constant presence, a true disciple of the path, and a living reminder that all beings walk toward peace.”