At the hemispheric junction of the International date line, a historic, auspicious landmark event took place. His Holiness Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Swamiji stepped ashore in to the turquoise sea and talcum sand of Mounu island, a remote 6 acre speck in the cosmic South Pacific. The Millennium visit to Mounu Island just after the International date line in the Kingdom of Tonga goes down in the history of Datta Peetham as a land mark event. Sri Swamiji was in intense prayers and meditation on these days of millennium ending and beginning.

The travel from Mysore commenced on 26th December (Sunday ) at 2 PM and took Pujya Swamiji through Singapore, Auckland, Nuku alofa, Vava'u and finally to Mounu island at 11.30 Am on 29th December 99 (Wednesday). Upon arrival in Vava'u international airport, Pujya Swamiji was received by Allan Bowe, of Mounu island. The 20 minute boat ride from the shores of Vava'u brought Sri Swamiji to Mounu island. A small group of devotees from America and Europe had assembled to receive Sri Swamiji. After alighting the small motorized boat, the only transportation to this isolated atoll, Sri Swamiji walked along the shore. Then Sri Swamiji went into the water, and sprinkled the first warm drops of the South Pacific upon Himself.

This arrival in to Tonga was the culmination of the process which started on 19th July 1997 in Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA where Sri Swamiji first inquired about the first place to see the sunrise on January 1st, 2000. He then mentioned that He wanted to be in Tonga on the first day of the year 2000 so that the first rays of the Sun would pass through the body of Pujya Sadgurudeva and radiate to the entire planet.

Tonga is a small Kingdom (and the only Polynesian Kingdom) of a cluster of 171 islands and comprises three mains island groups. The Vava'u group of islands is the most northeasterly and Mounu island, a small coral atoll, is a part of this group. Mounu island is a small land mass of 6 acres with 3 Fales (Tongan house) made of thatched palm fronds tied with coconut sinnet. Sri Swamiji stayed in Fale named Tolu. Others camped with their tents or stayed in a coconut thatched hut. The island is eco friendly and has no fresh water supply and relies on the rain water collection and solar energy. In short, Mounu island is picture perfect and the water has various hues of turquoise blue, and varying shades of green. Underneath these beautiful and tepid seas, there exists an amazing and diversified sea life.

On the day of arrival Sri Swamiji sat on a reclining chair facing the sea and and spent contemplating and quiet times in the stay there. In the evening, Sri Swamiji ventured into the sea and snorkeled around and saw the varied and amazing marine life around the island.

Here are some photos of the arrival and settling.............

Boards in Tonga proclaim that the Millennium begins in Tonga

Sri Swamiji alights the Royal Tongan airlines flight and sets foot in Vava'u island

In front of the airport

Picturesque Mounu island

Sri Swamiji gets down from the boat and arrives in to the Mounu island

The Turquoise blue water welcome Pujya Swamiji to Mounu island

Sri Swamiji all happy and smiling