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MCCORMICK, S.C. —

After 73 days of walking for peace, a group of Buddhist monks and their dog Aloka have crossed the Savannah River into South Carolina.

The group started their 2,300-mile journey in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26, and is traveling through 10 states en route to Washington, D.C.

As of Tuesday evening, the monks are traveling along Highway 378 and stopped overnight in McCmorick.

The monks were met by hundreds of supporters along the road, holding signs, flowers, and praying for the group.

"All we ever hear are the bad things, right? So whenever you get a taste of good news, you just want to be a part of it. You want to soak it all in," says Michelle Urps, who watched with her mother and daughter.

"Everybody was like silent as soon as they walked by, and bowing their heads and praying, just like it was just peaceful. It was mind, mind-blowing experience. You had to be here to see it," says Caroline Forest, who traveled to McCormick to watch with her sister.

The monks also hosted a meet and greet Tuesday night outside of the McCormick County Emergency Management offices, where they'll spend the night.

The original route through South Carolina had the group walking through part of Abbeville, Laurens, and possibly Union counties. On Jan. 2, the route changed to take a path through Columbia before heading north to North Carolina.

If you would like to follow their path, click on this map or check out the map below:

To track them live, click here or check out the map below:

The group has amassed a huge audience on social media, with more than 700,000 followers on Facebook. Aloka, who is named after a Sanskrit word meaning enlightenment, has its own hashtag, #AlokathePeaceDog, and Facebook page, with more than 400,000 followers.

Buddhism is a religion and philosophy that evolved from the teachings of Gautama Buddha, a prince turned teacher who is believed to have lived in northern India and attained enlightenment between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C. The religion spread to other parts of Asia after his death and came to the West in the 20th century. The Buddha taught that the path to end suffering and become liberated from the cycle of birth, death and reincarnation includes the practice of non-violence, mental discipline through meditation, and showing compassion for all beings.

While Buddhism has branched into a number of sects over the centuries, its rich tradition of peace activism continues. Its social teaching was pioneered by figures like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, who have applied core principles of compassion and non-violence to political, environmental and social justice as well as peace-building efforts around the world.

Since just after Christmas, the Walk for Peace has been hosted by multiple Georgia communities as the monks advance their peace initiative one step at a time. Now they aim to do the same in South Carolina.

What is the Walk for Peace?

More than a dozen Buddhist monks have been traveling by foot across country since October in an effort to promote compassion to all people, peace, and loving kindness. That mission has been incredibly successful as it has generated a ton of optimism among its many fans who have shared pictures and videos of the monks online and even brought them gifts on their walk.

How long is the Walk for Peace?

The walk stretches about 2,300 miles over the course of 120 days.

Where are the Walk for Peace monks right now?

Today, the monks walked from Tignall to Lincolnton where they stopped for lunch at a Methodist church. They then made their way northeast to a Savannah River Bridge that connects Lincolnton to McCormick, SC. The USA Today Network was on site and confirmed the monks crossed into South Carolina just before 3 p.m.

Where in South Carolina will the walking through?

The monks have confirmed they are heading to Columbia. Between McCormick and there, the walk will likely cross through Saluda with the path sticking along or near U.S. Route 378. There will multiple stops in between McCormick and Columbia, but the exact route and stops are subject to change. The monks are expected to be in Columbia sometime between Jan. 10 and 20.

Where are the Walk for Peace monks staying tonight?

The monks will be staying tonight at the McCormick EMS Headquarters at 608 South Mine St. Fans may visit them for 6-9 p.m. tonight.

Where did the Walk for Peace start?

The walk started on Oct. 26 in Fort Worth, TX.

Where does the Walk for Peace end?

The walk will end in Washington, D.C. near the end of February.

Miguel Legoas is a Deep South Connect Team Reporter for USA Today. Find him on Instagram @miguelegoas and email at.

EDGEFIELD, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - A group of Buddhist monks spent their third day in South Carolina on Thursday, walking from Edgefield to Saluda, where they had lunch and planned to spend the night.

A crowd followed them to Edgefield on Wednesday, where the monks served the followers food and handed out friendship bracelets.

It was the 74th day of the monks’ peace walk to Washington, D.C.

On Tuesday, hundreds gathered at the McCormick EMS headquarters to hear the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara spread his message.

“Everywhere we go now, the crowd is getting larger and larger. That shows us that everyone is joining this walk together with the monks,” Pannakara said.

The walk for peace has drawn crowds from across America on the monks’ journey from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C.

Tuesday brought that crowd to McCormick.

“What they’re doing here is bringing peace, love, and compassion. Everything that this town and the surrounding towns need,” said Ardreika Pratt, from McCormick, who came to walk with the monks.

Glenda Green, who also came to walk, called the journey remarkable. “Amazing. Astonishing. It takes a lot of dedication,” Green said.

Pannakara acknowledged that the journey has not been easy.

“Sometimes we step on nails, sometimes we step on screws and glass and things like that,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the monks continue their calling.

“Hopefully, everyone will practice to have love and kindness and compassion so that peace will bloom,” Pannakara said.

Some supporters offered gifts to show solidarity with the monks’ message.

“I share in their message and want to show that they’re not alone, that their message is heard,” said Doc Kahn, who came to walk.

Others provided support for the journey itself.

“Everybody doesn’t have the strength, everybody doesn’t have the passion, everybody doesn’t have that kind of dedication and commitment,” Pratt said.

Numerous people lined the streets again on Wednesday to see the monks, with some describing the experience as witnessing history. Many waited for hours to participate in the event.

“This is not the most beautiful place, but that’s what it’s about. It don’t have to be in the most beautiful place to experience peace. You know, this is peace right here. You know, and everybody feels it,” said Chrisanthia Hawkins and Daryl Chandler.

Diverse crowds gather

Susan DeBruhl noted the variety of participants drawn to the events.

“The variety of people who show up to these events because they are from all walks of life and from everywhere. I think that having the walk through a rural area is really eye-opening and enlightening for people who would not get to experience this otherwise,” DeBruhl said.

The monks spread their message through actions as well as words, with community members providing food and water to participants.

“For them to open their arms up to feed everybody, come on, hands down. Yeah. And it’s not only them, but it’s like people out here, you know, if somebody don’t have water, they’re saying, you know, you want something to drink, you know, or you want a snack. It’s people just coming together,” Hawkins and Chandler said.

Personal connections

Participants came for different reasons but many left with similar feelings. One attendee shared a personal motivation for joining.

“I almost lost my life because of a cell phone and I’m here to be a part of their history and to understand, what peace is about because humanity has shifted so much,” Hawkins and Chandler said.

Bhikkhu Pannakara, one of the Buddhist monks, explained the mission’s purpose.

“Peace is what the people, all kind of beings, are really in need right now, that’s asking and looking for every day. And we are Buddhist monks, we walk just to raise that awareness that peace has already been with us for so long. All we need to do is just pause and stop and look back within, and peace will begin from right there,” Pannakara said.

The monk said the community response has been meaningful.

“And that message, I think, has been heard. So that is why so many people come out to show love and support on this mission and walk together with us like that,” he said.

Pannakara said the walk through the CSRA will stay with him permanently.

“I think that it’s a lot of love that people support in us. And I think with all those emotions, that will be with me for the rest of my life,” he said.