Two audiences, two invitations
An opening day mixes people who are there to bless the business and people you hope will become its customers. They need different messages. Family, mentors, landlords, suppliers and key clients are guests: they are invited to the puja, perhaps a ribbon cutting, and a meal. Customers and the neighbourhood are an audience: they are told the doors are open and given a reason to visit.
Mixing them produces an invitation that is either too formal for customers or too commercial for family. Write the guest invitation first, then a short announcement.
What the guest invitation should include
- The name of the business and what it is: a clinic, a jewellery showroom, a CA office, a bakery.
- Who is inviting: the owner and family, or the partners.
- The occasion: the opening puja, inauguration or both, and any chief guest.
- Date, the muhurat or puja time, and the inauguration time if different.
- Full address with floor or shop number, a map link and parking.
- Whether lunch, high tea or prasad follows.
- A contact number, and a reply if you need headcount for food.
Puja-service providers describe an office or business puja as typically one to two hours, often beginning with Ganesh puja and including Lakshmi puja for prosperity. Ask your priest for the exact sequence and timing, and put the time guests should arrive, not only the muhurat, on the invitation.
Wording you can adapt
With the blessings of Lord Ganesha and our elders, we are delighted to invite you to the opening of [Business name], [what it is], on [day, date]. The puja begins at [time], followed by the inauguration at [time] and lunch. [Address, floor]. Your presence and blessings mean a great deal to us. [Owner names], [phone]
Shri Ganeshaya Namah. Hamare naye pratishthan [Business name] ke shubharambh ke avsar par aap sapariwar saadar aamantrit hain. Pooja: [date], [time]. Sthaan: [address]. Aapki upasthiti aur aashirwad ke aakankshi: [Owner names].
Dear [Name], we are opening our new office at [address] on [date] and would be honoured to have you with us for the inauguration at [time], followed by high tea. Please let us know if you can join us. [Name, designation, company]
[Business name] opens on [date] at [address]! Visit us from [time] for [one reason to visit: free consultation, opening-day offer, tasting]. Directions: [map link]
When to send each message
Business-messaging guides make one point worth following even on a personal phone: send promotional messages only to people who have opted in, and do not message the same person every day. A number saved in your billing software is not consent to receive offers.
- Seven to ten days before: the guest invitation, with a phone call to elders, the chief guest and your most important clients. A message alone is easy to miss in an opening week.
- Two to three days before: a reminder to guests with the time and map.
- Three to seven days before: the customer announcement, only to people who have agreed to hear from you.
- The morning of opening: a short we-are-open message to customers, a few hours before the doors open.
Choosing the date
Many families open a business on a date the priest considers auspicious, and some choose festival days such as Dhanteras, Akshaya Tritiya or Vijayadashami. If you do, remember your guests are busy with their own celebrations that day, so invite early and keep the guest event short. If the muhurat falls early in the morning or on a weekday, say so clearly so that guests can plan around work.
For festival timing, see the Diwali timing guide for how the festival week affects when messages are read.
A printed card, a digital invitation, or both
For elders and a few important guests, a printed card delivered by hand still carries weight, just as it does for a griha pravesh. For everyone else, a digital invitation with the puja time, map, a photo of the new space and a reply button works better than an image that cannot be updated. A digital invitation can also carry the brand: the logo, colours and the look of the shop, so the invitation is the first thing customers see of the business.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
How do I write a shop opening invitation message?
Name the business and what it is, who is inviting, the puja and inauguration times, the full address with a map, and whether a meal follows. Send customers a separate, shorter announcement.
When should I send office opening invitations?
About a week to ten days before for guests, with calls to the most important ones, and a reminder two or three days before. Customer announcements go out a few days before and on the morning of opening.
Should the invitation mention the puja muhurat?
Yes, but also give the time guests should arrive. The muhurat may be a short window and guests need to be seated before it starts.
Can I send the opening invitation to all my customers on WhatsApp?
Only to customers who have agreed to receive messages from you. Business-messaging guidance treats a saved number as not enough on its own.
What is a polite Hindi line for a shop opening invitation?
A common form is 'aap sapariwar saadar aamantrit hain', meaning you and your family are respectfully invited, after the business name and the occasion.