Naming ceremony invitation templates

Begin with a blessing or invocation if your family uses one, then the parents’ names, a line inviting guests to the naming ceremony of their son or daughter, and the date, time and venue. Add the muhurtham if there is one, and a line about lunch or dinner afterwards if guests are staying to eat.

Traditionally the namakaranam is held on the eleventh or twelfth day after birth, after the period of ritual seclusion ends. Many families now hold it later, in the first few months, on a date the family priest chooses as auspicious. Customs vary by region and community, so families follow their own elders’ guidance.

A barasala is a Telugu naming ceremony in which the baby is placed in a cradle for the first time and the name is whispered into the baby’s ear, often by the father or an elder. It is commonly held on the twenty-first day after birth, though families may choose another auspicious date.

Gifts vary by tradition. At Indian naming ceremonies, guests often bring small gold or silver items, baby clothes or cash in an envelope with blessings. At other naming days, books, keepsakes or clothing are common. Many hosts write “your blessings are our gift”, and a card with good wishes is always welcome.