“Matchmaker, matchmaker, make me a match, find me a find, and catch me a catch… “

These are lines that resonate in an Indian setup; but less so nowadays. The “marriage-broker” or “matchmaker” has always been a common figure in India.

For those still unaware, it was generally a woman (could be male too) who would roam with a pouch full of photographs, of prospective brides and grooms. Parents eager to get their children married, would contact the marriage broker, not in the open, but covertly, maybe a whisper in the ear, at a community function. Then followed the showing and seeing. If a match went through, efforts were appreciated with gifts in kind.

The scene looks a little different today. Our ever-enthusiastic marriage brokers have been relegated into the background. It is because of the introduction of matrimonial sites, which cater widely to an Indian audience.

Marriages in India are not just a matter of choosing a partner you think you are compatible with. There are a lot of other social, cultural and religious elements that have to be factored for a suitable match.

Select State-wise

The Indian subcontinent comprises 29 states and 7 union territories. Indian matrimonial sites include a section for location. This way profiles are categorized as Goan, Tamilian, Marathi, Bengali, Gujarati, Telugu etc.

Religion

Hinduism, Christianity and Islam are the major religions practiced in India. There are also a few minor ones such as Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism. You can filter your search to religious preferences.

Partners abroad

India has also seen a lot of migration in the past few years. If one is interested, an Indian matrimonial site can help you find an NRI partner who professes the same creed and belongs to the same caste.

Caste

Caste is a major factor when choosing a preferred suitor in India. While interreligious marriages are slowly being accepted, inter-caste marriages are far from it. Hence, matching castes is as important as matching horoscopes.

The common caste categories include Brahmin, Kshatriyas, Vaishya, Agarwal, Rajputs, Jats, Yadavs, Dhobi, Baniya etc. Muslims also have sects such as Bohras, Sunnis and Shias. Further there are denominations within the Christian church such as Roman Catholic, Syro-Malabar, Protestants, and Believers etc.

Status

Indian matrimonial sites also have profiles for divorced and widowed brides and bridegrooms.

Indian matrimonial sites pay attention to all these small details. You can create a complete profile, where you can not only list your name, age, profession and gender, but also partner preferences in terms of religion, state of residence, caste, horoscope etc.

You can connect with socially and personally acceptable individuals at the click of single button and discreetly, till you are sure you want to go ahead with it. Features such as live-chat let you get to know the person better before you can schedule a meeting.

Not only this, registration with an Indian matrimony site doesn’t require filling in a multiple-page questionnaire. It can be completed in a matter of minutes. A few Indian matrimonial sites also let you generate the Horoscope, “Kundali” as it is popularly known.

Yes! Matrimonial sites are replacing traditional marriage brokers. And they do an equally job helping your find a partner that’s matched in age, profession, religion, caste and location.

matchmaking
Matrimony Sites Are Replacing Traditional Marriage Brokers in India