Marriage is central to any society. It grew as a code of conduct that ensures security, social order, family and continuing of the lineage. Its practices have today evolved into the presence of Indian matrimonial sites - means of seeking and fixing matrimonial alliances using the Internet.

1. Indian Matrimonial Sites: sign, cause and effect of change
Marriage is central to any society. It grew as a code of conduct that ensures security,
social order, family and continuing of the lineage. Its practices have today evolved into
the presence of Indian matrimonial sites - means of seeking and fixing matrimonial
alliances using the Internet. Marriage and its aims are common to all irrespective of the
religion or community – it is only the conventions and rituals that differ. However, Indian
matrimonial sites can suit the purpose of all communities and religions. In fact,
contemporary Indian matrimonial sites go beyond these into broader parameters of
matching personalities and lives for long term
commitment.
Earlier there was the astrologer, pandit, maulvi, naayan, or a matchmaking friend or
relative known to both families to convey an expression of interest. There were also the
professional marriage brokers and bureaus (those on the wrong side of forty can picture
Shashikala in the laugh riot Biwi O Biwi), and we still see reams and reams of marriage
classified ads in newspapers. Today, added to these – and sometimes at their cost -
there are Indian matrimonial sites. These matrimonial sites act as the matchmakers:
they have prospective partners with personal and professional details lined up.
Registration is online, expression of interest a click away, and follow up more personal
and individual. Most charge a fee while some, like marryinaweek.com, are as of now
free.
Despite the ingress of love marriages and live in relationships, arranged marriages in
India remain firmly entrenched. Parents remain in the forefront of matrimonial alliances,
primarily because they want to ensure their children are “well settled”. However, even in

2. this gradual changes are creeping in. Marryinaweek is a matrimonial app that is based
on values, interests,, lifestyle and Facebook profile and offers anyone free feature on
the app to reach all their matches instantly.
Since the app works inside the facebook, by default prospective bride or groom take
control of their activities on the app which includes expressing interest or accepting
other’s expression of interest in them.
This is an app as opposed to Indian matrimonial sites and it deviates from the
community, caste and religion-centric matches thrown up by, classifieds and Indian
matrimonial sites.
In today’s world, compatibility depends on more than shared caste and community and
young adults know their minds. In acknowledgement of these, criteria for compatibility
in marriage too have changed to beyond those conventionally sought and prospective
brides and grooms are more actively a part of the decision making process, making
their own parameters and expressing their own aspirations either online or in person.
With marriages still holding their own, we can turn a deaf ear to cynical voices of doom
for the institution. Yes, conventions for them are changing to suit changing times and
Indian matrimonial sites are variously the sign, the cause and the effect of this.