Minister for Tourism, Culture, and Archaeology, Jupally Krishna Rao, will formally welcome the monks participating in the historic 3rd Dhamma Padayatra upon their arrival in the city on Wednesday, February 18, 2026. The Minister, accompanied by public representatives, senior IAS and IPS officers, and eminent personalities, will receive the procession at 1:00 PM at the iconic 125-foot Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Statue.
Dedicated to spreading Gautama Buddha’s timeless message of peace and compassion, the padayatra features hundreds of Thai and Indian Buddhist monks. The spiritual journey commenced from the Siddhartha Buddha Vihara in Karnataka and covers a distance of over 400 kilometres on foot. After paying homage at the Ambedkar Statue, the monks are scheduled to visit the historic Buddha Statue at Lumbini Park, Hussainsagar.
The yatra is headed by Ven. Pra Songshak Kovido, Sangha Project Director from Thailand, and is organised by Gagan Malik, President of the Gagan Malik Foundation. Following the ceremonies at Hussainsagar, the procession will proceed to the Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara for a stay through February 19th. The march will resume its journey through Uppal, Ibrahimpatnam, and Kondamallepalli, finally culminating at Buddhavanam in Nagarjunasagar on March 1, 2026.
Mallepally Lakshmaiah, Special Officer of Buddhavanam, noted that the padayatra represents a significant spiritual and cultural event aimed at promoting global peace and harmony.
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