Confusion surrounds Harrison farewell
Mystery surrounded the whereabouts of the family of the late Beatle George Harrison today, as Hare Krishna devotees backed away from earlier claims that they would spread his ashes in India’s holy Ganges River.
Harrison, long a devotee of Hinduism, was due to make his final return to India for an ancient ritual that Hindus believe would allow Harrison’s soul to begin its approach to heaven.
Officials of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness yesterday said Harrison’s widow and son were to arrive in India before dawn today.
Harrison, 58, died of cancer in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Arijit Das, vice president of the society in the northern holy city of Varanasi, said today there had been a ‘‘miscommunication’’ on the timing of the Harrisons’ arrival.
‘‘I got some prank calls about the timings and there was a miscommunication which I passed on to a section of the media,’’ Das said. ‘‘I don’t have any idea about the timings, but I do have information that his ashes are coming to Varanasi.’’
Harrison’s widow, Olivia, and his 23-year-old son, Dhani, were to be accompanied by two Hare Krishna devotees who performed Hindu rites on Harrison’s ashes with the family in London, Maha Mantra Das, a New Delhi spokesman for the International Society of Krishna Consciousness, said yesterday.
The society said that its representatives in London had been in contact with Harrison’s family. The family would not discuss any details or confirm any aspect of the reports, spokesman Gavin de Becker said in Los Angeles.
The president of the New Delhi chapter of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the formal title of the Hare Krishnas, said today the Harrison family was asking for privacy while in India.
‘‘The family wants it to be a private affair. It is the saddest moment of their life,’’ said Kartu Das at the Hare Krishna temple, where devotees held prayers in honour of Harrison and chanted before his portrait.
