Patna: The Bihar government has begun final preparations to welcome thousands of Sikh devotees who are expected to arrive in Patna Sahib for the 359th Prakash Parv of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji Maharaj. On Monday, tourism minister Arun Shankar Prasad held a high-level review meeting in Patna to assess the arrangements and ensure that pilgrims face no difficulty during their visit. The focus, he said, was on providing good facilities, maintaining cleanliness and ensuring strong security throughout the celebrations.
Senior officials from the tourism department attended the meeting, including tourism secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh, tourism director Udayan Mishra and Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation general manager Chandan Chauhan. During the discussion, officials reviewed accommodation plans, tourist facilities and information centres meant for Sikh devotees coming from different parts of India and from abroad. The tourism department informed the minister that most preparations have already been completed and that all work is being done within the planned timeline.
A major part of the arrangements is the tent city set up near Kanganghat in Patna Sahib. According to officials, the tent city has been developed with modern facilities to comfortably accommodate pilgrims during the Prakash Parv. A dedicated tourist information centre has also been established to help visitors with guidance, travel details and other support services, making it easier for devotees to move around the city.
After the meeting, the tourism minister visited Kanganghat to personally inspect the tent city. He reviewed facilities such as accommodation, food arrangements, drinking water supply, medical services, transport facilities and information desks. He instructed officials to work together across departments so that pilgrims feel safe, respected and well cared for throughout their stay. The state government, he said, is ensuring close coordination between the tourism, transport, art and culture, and urban development departments.
Speaking about the significance of the event, Prasad said welcoming Sikh devotees to Patna Sahib was a matter of pride for Bihar. He added that successful organisation of the Prakash Parv would not only reflect the state’s tradition of hospitality but also help strengthen Bihar’s image as an important centre of religious tourism. “We want every devotee to take back a positive experience of Bihar,” he said, adding that the event would give new recognition to the state’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
