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Reporters disappointed as Harrison's ashes fail to appear in India

Reporters expecting to see George Harrison's ashes scattered on the River Ganges have so far been disappointed.

Journalists from international news agencies and Indian newspapers have gathered in Varanasi - one of India's oldest cities.

But local officials don't know anything about his widow and son planning to come to the city to scatter his ashes.

It has been suggested Olivia and Dhani had chartered a plane to carry his ashes for the ceremony in the city.

Local civil aviation authority spokesman Shashank Shekar Singh says: "If any chartered plane wants to land during this period, it has to get a written permission from the government. So far, no such request has been made."

Local police inspector Vikram Singh says: "We have no information about the ashes being brought here. We play a role when those immersing ashes demand security. So far we haven't received any such request."

Hare Krishna officials say they're unhappy about the "unnecessary media glare" but haven't denied the family's "plans" to scatter the ashes, the Indian Express reports.

Story filed: 10:16 Wednesday 5th December 2001

WITH INCENSE AND CHANTING FILLING THE AIR HE SAID 'HARE KRISHNA' AND SLIPPED AWAY
TWO HOLY MEN FLEW FROM LONDON 'TO EASE GEORGE'S PATH INTO THE NEXT LIFE'
GEORGE Harrison's spiritual guru yesterday told of the Beatle's final moments.

His Hindu mentor Ravi Shankar, 81, joined George's wife Olivia and son Dhani to comfort the dying musician as his life ebbed away at a friend's Los Angeles home .

George also arranged for Hare Krishna devotee Shyamasundar Das to travel from London and another devotee, Mukunda Goswami. to fly from New Zealand to ease his path "into reincarnation".

"He looked so peaceful - surrounded by love. He was a brave, beautiful soul, full of love, childlike humour and a deep spirituality," said Ravi.

George, 58, spent his dying moments repeating the mantra "Hare Krishna", telling his friends it helped him "see God".

He chose his favourite pictures of Hindu gods Krishna and Rama to be positioned around his bed .

Incense and candles were burned as the robed Krishna devotees chanted and prayed over him. After his death, sacred leaves were placed in his mouth, he was garlanded with orange-coloured flowers and sprinkled with holy water.

His shawl-wrapped body was later covered with holy oils and earth and cremated.

His ashes may now be taken to India and scattered in the River Yamuna at the birthplace of Krishna north of Delhi

http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/shtml/NEWS/P6S3.shtml

Tom Cruise's character pays tribute to George Harrison in his new movie.

The scene for Vanilla Sky was shot months before the death of the former Beatle.

But director Cameron Crowe decided to leave the line in the film because it is
now "more meaningful."

http://www.ananova.com/yournews/story/sm_466005.html

George pledged a million dollars for new temple

George Harrison pledged around £700,000 to build a temple in a holy Indian city, claim Hare Krishna followers.

The revelation came as hundreds of fans continue to wait at the banks of the Ganges River in India waiting for his family to scatter his ashes.

Harrison's widow, Olivia, and their 23-year-old son, Dhani, are due to scatter the ashes into the holy river, according to Hare Krishna officials.

Harrison was a longtime devotee of Hinduism, whose followers believe that immersing ashes allows the soul to begin its approach toward heaven.

It was a dream for the late Beatle to build a temple in the heart of Varanasi that he loved for its mysticism and cultural riches, says Prasannatma Das, president of the Varanasi chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON.

A few months ago Harrison visited Varanasi quietly and stayed for several days to discuss the temple plan.

"The model is ready. Work would start in May-June once we get the money," said Das. The Radha Krishna Chandra temple will be built on a plot of land spread over two acres in the next five years.

Wealthy supporters have helped ISKCON build dozens of beautiful temples across India. Their palatial structures and impressive architecture attract hundreds of visitors every day.

Meanwhile, Harrison's fans in Varanasi have been flying kites to pay tribute to him. They wrote messages on them: "Free as birds," "Give peace a chance," "We love you Harrison."

Hare Krishna followers and Beatles' fans still hoped they would get to see Harrison's family perform the last rites. But the city's administration or airport authorities had no clue about when the family would arrive.

Lennon vigil sparks New York curfew battle

Beatles fans are preparing for a showdown with New York officials over the 21st anniversary of John Lennon's death.

They plan a vigil at Central Park's Strawberry Fields on Saturday night.

They want the memorial to continue past the 1am park curfew imposed for the past eight years.

"Since September 11, we have seen a new side of (Mayor Rudolph Giuliani), who has shown a lot of compassion," said Tom Leighton, co-founder of the Memorial Committee.

"We are just hoping that perhaps he can extend this compassion to fans of John Lennon and rock 'n' roll fans in general and allow us to extend the vigil this year past 1am."

Leighton spoke at Strawberry Fields, struggling to be heard over the voices of two Beatles fans plaintively singing Don't Let Me Down.

In previous years the mayor has said concern for public safety and the costs of extra security were the reasons for not extending the curfew. The park is generally closed between 1 and 6am.

Parks commissioner Henry Stern, however, said that the curfew decision was his, not Giuliani's, and that blaming the mayor was just a tactic to get attention from the press.

Leighton, who ran for mayor this year under the banner of the Marijuana Reform Party, and co-organiser Candido Bonilla said they felt this year their argument was a question of fairness.

"Last week, when George Harrison passed away, the vigil was allowed to go on all night," Leighton said. "There were no problems, and we are just asking for equal treatment for John Lennon fans."