George Harrison, a true son of Liverpool, whose music reached out to the whole world and shaped a generation

Liverpool's Lord Mayor Gerry Scott

It had been thought that Harrison's family intended to scatter his ashes in the sacred River Ganges in India following a private ceremony.

But it is unclear whether or not this has yet taken place.

Liverpool and London provided centres for fans in the UK to pay their respects, with vigils held outside St George's Hall and outside Abbey Road recording studios on Monday.

At Central Park's Strawberry Fields in New York, more than 200 people gathered to take part in the meditation and afterwards sang songs.

One participant said: "The world is emptier without him. It is a big loss."

Inspiration

Three hours earlier, fans in Liverpool had clapped along to Harrison's hit My Sweet Lord after observing their own minute's silence.

Hare Krishna devotees said a prayer of meditation

Liverpool Lord Mayor Gerry Scott told the crowd: "Tonight we are gathered here in memory of George Harrison, a true son of Liverpool, whose music reached out to the whole world and shaped a generation.

"George was a truly gifted musician. But he was much more than that.

"His ideals and his love of peace inspired countless thousands.

"His loss will be deeply felt but his vision will live on."

'Private ceremony'

Meanwhile it is uncertain what private ceremony may have taken place following Harrison's cremation.

According to the tenets of Hare Krishna, the Hindu sect to which the former Beatle adhered, the movement of the ashes in the river is symbolic of the soul's journey towards eternal consciousness.

But a Hare Krishna official in India told Reuters news agency that the ashes had not arrived by aircraft as expected.

Prasann Atmas Das, head of the Hare Krishna sect in Varanasi, said: "We were waiting to perform the necessary rituals.

"But now nobody has come."

Harrison's widow, Olivia and son, Dhani, wished to make the visit to India and the ceremony, at the holy city of Varanasi very private, Mahamantra Das, New Delhi spokesman for the International Society of Krishna Consciousnes had earlier said.

Hare Krishna members around the world had been praying for the musician's soul, he said.

A minute's silence was observed in Liverpool

In a statement, family friend Gavin de Becker, said Olivia and Dhani were "deeply touched by the outpouring of love and compassion from people around the world".

"The profound beauty of the moment of George's passing - of his awakening from this dream - was no surprise to those of us who knew how he longed to be with God.

"In that pursuit, he was relentless.

Pupils from Harrison's old school have planted a tree in the city's peace garden.

Children from Dovedale Junior School, along with Lord Mayor of Liverpool Gerry Scott planted it behind St George's Hall.

A memorial in Liverpool is to be planned for a later date to be agreed with the musician's family.