The tourism department will organise an international Sikh conclave from September 22 to 24 in the run-up to Guru Gobind Singh's 350th birth anniversary celebrations.

Sikh scholars, leaders and celebrities from several countries are likely to attend the three-day event being seen as a prelude to Prakash Utsav (Guru Gobind Singh's birth anniversary celebrations). The inaugural event will be held at SK Memorial Hall and other events at hotel Maurya.

"The conclave is aimed at framing the groundwork for the upcoming festival," said Umashankar Prasad, director tourism directorate. "We are inviting Sikh scholars and intellectuals from around the world to allow exchange of opinions on Guru Gobind Singh and the upcoming celebrations of his birth anniversary."

The 10th Sikh Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh, was born in Patna Sahib on December 26, 1666. The Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara in Patna Sahib is among the holiest of places for Sikhs, second only to the Golden Temple in Amritsar.

Prakash Utsav will begin on December 25, 2016 and end on January 7, 2017. Around 5 lakh Sikh devotees from across the world are expected to visit Patna to participate in the grand celebrations.

The state government has been preparing for Prakash Utsav for over a year. Recently, the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) has started a bidding process for development of tent cities at three locations - Gandhi Maidan to house 30,000 people, Gurdwara Kangan Ghat to house 5,000 people and Bypass Parking Sthal to house 20,000 people.

"The tents will be equipped with all modern facilities as these would be used for accommodation of Sikh pilgrims from across the world. The main tent city at Gandhi Maidan will have a stage and a pandal.

Gandhi Maidan will be the main transit point for the festival in the city. The railways are also planning a shuttle service on a defunct railway track between Patna Sahib and Patna Ghat to facilitate pilgrim movement. A two-lane approach road is also proposed between Patna Ghat and Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib Gurdwara.

The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also decided to build welcome arch gates at seven entry locations all around the city in the run-up to Prakash Utsav. The arch gates will have the message "Welcome to Patna Municipal Corporation" written on them. The development of all major amenities for Prakash Utsav is targeted to be completed by September.

Even Union finance minister Arun Jaitley made a special provision in the budget to allocate Rs 100 crore for the Gurdwara's beautification before the event. Last December, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was in Patna to review arrangements.

On the law and order front, Patna police has decided to divide the entire stretch from Gandhi Maidan and Patna City in 10 zones to ensure close monitoring of all activities during the event. Closed-circuit television cameras are also proposed to be installed in Patna City to ensure vigil.