How to perform an inauguration

     Lately, the ribbon cutting ceremony inaugurates any new businesses, stores and premises. The traditional Hindu system of inauguration works in a two-fold manner; first, it eliminates distressing energies and second, invokes positive energies. To achieve this end when inaugurating a store or a new premise, the following steps are taken:

Getting rid of the distressing energies by breaking a coconut (by breaking it in two halves), instead of cutting a ribbon.

To bring in positive energy into the premises one can do the following: - If one is blessed to have a Guru, place His photograph inside the premises. If one does not have a Guru, one can place a picture or statue of their Family Deity (divine Principle as per one’s religion) or favorite Deity (divine Principle). - One can offer a lit lamp* and an incense stick to the divine Principle (deity) or Guru.

    While conducting an inauguration on stage, one need not break a coconut. There is no need to have the pictures of divine Principles or Guru on stage either. The ‘stage’ is known as ‘Vyaspeeth’ in Sanskrut. It means, Vyas = The Sage who wrote the Hindu Holy epic Mahabharat, and peeth = residence of. Hence, since the ‘stage’ is actually such a Holy place (namely, the residence of Sage Vyas), one can just light a lamp for the inauguration ceremony.

* Lamps with two entwined cotton wicks dipped in clarified butter (ghee) generate maximum spiritual purity (sattvikta), as they can attract divine frequencies all the way from the Swarga (heaven) subtle region (lok).