In pictures: Special day for Sikhs

1 of 8 Sikhs from all over the world are gathering in the holy city of Amritsar, northern India, to mark the 400th anniverary on Wednesday of the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, being placed in the Golden Temple.

2 of 8 The Golden Temple - Sikhism's holiest shrine - will be the centre of celebrations. It is expected that more than 4m visitors will converge on Amritsar, in the northern state of Punjab.

3 of 8 There is a distinct air of festivity in Amritsar's Old City, which surrounds the Golden Temple. It is a site as sacred to Sikhs as Mecca is to Muslims.

4 of 8 It was on this day, exactly 400 years ago, that the Guru Granth Sahib - a textual compilation of the teachings of the Sikh Gurus - was brought to the Golden Temple by the fifth Sikh guru, Guru Arjan Dev.

5 of 8 Amritsar has been spruced up and illuminated for the special anniversary. Hotels, guest houses and boarding houses are all full to capacity.

6 of 8 Visitors from all over the world - including Pakistan - have arrived. For many it has been the journey of a lifetime and a once in a lifetime occasion.

7 of 8 Special arrangements have been put in place to receive what is expected to be the biggest influx of visitors to Amritsar ever. There will be a seminars, exhibitions and a massive public congregation.

8 of 8 India's first Sikh Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, is one of those due to take part in the celebrations. The biggest influx during the five-day celebrations is expected to be on Wednesday.