The state tourism department has roped in around 20 celebrities to help spread the word as the state government gears up to celebrate the 350th Prakash Utsav (birth anniversary) of Guru Gobind Singh next year.

The celebrities will make use of different forms of media in India and abroad to advertise about the event.

Tourism department director Uma Shankar Singh told The Telegraph that the project, which also includes making films on the life of the religious man, started on April 14 (Baisakhi) and will continue the whole year. "Prakash Utsav is among the biggest events Patna will host," Uma said.

The event will begin on January 5 and continue for around 15 days. "The event holds great significance and we are expecting lakhs of people from around the world to come to the Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara here for the event," Uma said.

"Among the celebrities are ace cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, actor Manoj Bajpai, singers Gurdas Mann and Mika, actor Javed Jaffrey, Tigmanshu Dhulia and actors Saurabh Shukla and Jimmy Shergill among others. Shikhar Dhawan and Javed Jaffery's messages adorn the department of tourism's Facebook page and more will follow soon."

A Delhi-based company has been roped in to approach the celebrities and get their message recorded for the event. "The department is working hard to ensure Prakash Utsav is a grand success. With the Sikh community from around the world set to come to Patna, there can be no lapses," the official said.

Last December, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was in Patna to review arrangements.

The state government is planning a tent city for pilgrims and tourists at the Gandhi Maidan, where 20,000 pilgrims are to be lodged. The railways are planning a shuttle service on a defunct railway track between Patna Sahib and Patna Ghat to facilitate pilgrim movement.

Even Union finance minister Arun Jaitley made a special provision in the budget to allocate Rs 100 crore for the Gurudwara's beautification before the event.

Other celebrities roped in for the event's success are singer Hansraj Hans, actors Manoj Pahwa, Aditya Srivastava and Upasna Singh and Sufi singer Hardeep Kaur.

"Apart from uploading on different social media forums, video clippings have been released to Punjabi entertainment channels for continuous airing in the first phase," Uma said.

"The department is spending around Rs 1.25 crore for this particular project. After all the Punjabi channels are popular with the community worldwide. In the next phase, a film on the life of Guru Gobind Singh and more video clips of celebrities will be released.

The Takht Shri Harmandir Sahib Gurudwara is among the holiest of places for Sikhs after the Golden Temple in Amritsar.