Matrimonial website

Marriage websites or online matrimonial sites are a variation of the normal dating sites, with a focus on those wanting marriage rather than simply dating. Typically, matrimonial sites are used by people who prefer arranged marriage over love marriage.

Matrimonial sites register users, after which they are able to upload their profile onto a searchable database maintained by the website. Those users looking to find suitors can search the database with customised searches that typically include nationality, age, gender, availability of photograph and often religion, geographic location and caste (for websites based in India).

In India

India has always been rooted in tradition and religious beliefs. A marriage in India is more of a religious and social ceremony than a tying of souls together for life. Arranged marriages and marriages within the family has been the usual norm in Indian families. Love marriages have always been taboo. The essential marriage broker is a professional who used to be involved in most arranged marriages. In the last decade the print matrimonials gained an upper hand. With the internet boom in India, the picture of a marriage broker with a huge diary with tucked in photographs is slowly fazed, giving way to a gamut of online matrimonial sites. They have mushroomed like crazy. There is not a single state in India which does not have one or more matrimonial sites dedicated to serve the region. Apart from the big players who target the entire nation with the concept of the Indian wedding.

Leading matrimonials sites in India are Shaadi.com, BharatMatrimony, JeevanSathi.com and meraSathi.com. All these websites are focused on India where the matrimonials style of online dating is most prevalent. All these websites have their own service centers around India.

Indian marriage requirements can in many cases be so incredibly specific in religion, caste, language, and location needed that the Internet suits many potential Indian husbands and wives perfectly. There are 15 sections for different languages on the BharatMatrimony site. As for meraSathi, not only are there 10 different languages you can choose from but also, 8 religions and 7 different countries (if one is looking for non resident indians or NRIs).

Female membership

The typical woman will begin joining matrimonial sites as soon as she graduates college around the age of 23. Female membership at these sites steadily increase from 18 through 26 years of age. At age 27, there is a considerable drop-off in membership as most women seek to get married by then. Women over 40 make up less than 3% of the enrollment.

Further reading

• Adams, Paul C. and Ghose, Rina (August 2003). "India.com: the construction of a space between". Progress in Human Geography. 27 (4). SAGE Publications: 414–437(24). doi:10.1191/0309132503ph437oa.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Peeyush Agnihotri (2002-05-06). "Shehnai please, it's Webbing time". The Tribune. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Gitanjali Sharma (2004-12-18). "The mating Game". The Tribune. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Reena Jana (2000-08-17). "Arranged Marriages, Minus the Parents". The Tribune. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• "Matrimonial sites fail to tick with women". The Deccan Herald. 2006-07-28. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
• India Syndicate. "Tying th knot on-line". MSN India. MSN.
• Manushri Bahukhandi. "Netting a mate: Matrimonial ads go online". Zee News.
• Mohan Babu. "The business of online matchmaking". GaramChai.
• The Economist, October 25, 2006. "Made for each other".{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)