A peaceful walk through Raleigh

A group of monks walking more than 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington, D.C., will make their way through the Triangle and Raleigh this weekend.

Why it matters: The Buddhist monks have dubbed their journey a "Walk for Peace," and have attracted crowds of thousands of people on their way.

• That included large crowds in Charlotte, High Point and Greensboro this week, where they stopped to preach a message of mindfulness and peace.

Zoom in: On Wednesday, the monks made it to Siler City in Chatham County.

• A live map of their journey can be found here.
• They're expected to make it to Raleigh on Jan. 24, and monks have previously told local news outlets that snow and ice in the forecast won't stop them.
• The group plans to visit the State Capitol in Raleigh, though exact times and locations may change.

What's next: The walk is expected to end in Washington, D.C., in mid-February, where the monks will ask Congress to recognize Buddha's birthday and enlightenment as a federal holiday.