LONDON, Feb. 15 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition exploring one of the most secretive episodes in the lives of the Beatles, one of the most influential music band in 1960s, opened Thursday in the group's home city of Liverpool.
"Beatles in India" is dedicated to telling the story of group's visit 50 years ago to Rishikesh in India.
"This is a new one-of-a-kind exhibition, exploring a key and relatively secretive episode of the Beatles' story with memorabilia, imagery and exclusive personal accounts from the people who were there with the band in 1968," said a spokesman at the Beatles Story museum where the exhibition is being held.
A sitar used by Beatle George Harrison's mentor, Ravi Shankar, has been loaned to The Beatles Story for the exhibition.
Ravi's influence on the Beatle's ultimately helped to popularize the use of Indian instruments in 1960s pop music.
The exhibits also include photography from Paul Saltzman, a sound engineer for the National Film Board of Canada at the time, who photographed the Beatles during their stay in India. He is responsible for some of the most iconic and intimate images of the band in India.
Pattie Boyd, former wife to George Harrison, and her sister Jenny Boyd, who were among the star-studded list of attendees in India, have provided their personal insights into the time through exclusive video interviews. All three travelled to Liverpool for the exhibition
Pattie Boyd said: "I am delighted to have been invited to be a part of the new exhibition, marking the 50th anniversary of their trip to Rishikesh. It really was a special, magical time; forming many memories and, of course, an abundance of great Beatles music."
The exhibition encompass some of the authentic colors, sounds and smells of Rishikesh so that visitors can really get a sense of what it was like for the Beatles.
Diane Glover from the Beatles Story, said: "Visiting Rishikesh, ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Beatles staying there, was wonderful. The remains of the Maharishi's Ashram, overlooking the Holy River Ganges, still stand and it is clearly a place of peace and seclusion.
"The 1968 visit was an important time of reflection for The Beatles as their manager, Brian Epstein had sadly passed away in the summer of 1967, and they escaped away from their fans and the media in search of spirituality."
"Beatles in India" opened at The Beatles Story, Liverpool on Feb. 15, 2018, 50 years to the day that John Lennon, George Harrison and their wives Cynthia Lennon and Pattie Boyd arrived in India. The exhibition in Liverpool will run for two years.
