Festival dating | 63% of Indians yearn for a date during festival season: Survey
The countrywide survey also found that 63% of Indians like women who make the first move while dating, even as 83% seek commitment in their relationship.
A survey has revealed an interesting discovery on the dating behaviour of young Indians. The Gen-Next are becoming increasingly open to dating the person of their dreams during the festival season, which comes with glittering lights around, loads of delicacies, and anticipation of meeting someone lingering on in the air with love and gifts.
Bumble, a dating app, conducted a nationwide survey of its users and found that 63 per cent of young Indians are open to meeting someone or, in romantic parlance, dating someone during the festival season.
The longing for and urge to date someone, among the next-generation and lonely Indians, gets a proverbial shot in the arm during the festive season. The trend, which is on the upswing, is triggered by social media, which is far more ubiquitous and powerful these days.
What is festival dating?
When these lonely hearts see friends, acquaintances, or couples they know sharing their joy of celebrating the festival together with their partners or having a joyful shopping experience on social media, they too long for someone special to be by their side during those celebratory moments, according to the Bumble study. They also seek to establish a romantic connection by dating someone they look forward to meeting during the festival season.
What does Bumble study say?
While 63 per cent of young Indians are open to festival dating, the findings of the survey further suggest that 36 per cent like to celebrate the festival with their friends, while 18 per cent surveyed look forward to finding their date during the festival season. According to the survey, 27 per cent of young Indians prefer to celebrate the festival with their partners.
The trend of finding a date and soulmate during festival season is undoubtedly on the upswing as people are open to socialising and going out on these occasions, the study finds.
An occasion for bonding
The festival season is also an occasion for bonding.
“Festivals are an interesting time when romance is in the air! During this season when the entire country lights up for multiple, sometimes simultaneous festivals, as you explore festive rituals and traditions with each other, you also get to know each other better and forge deeper connections,” Samarpita Samaddar, India Communications Director at Bumble, gives her insight.
Indians also love to observe rituals like performing a puja with their date or partners, according to the study, which makes the occasion special for them.
In addition, they like to shop and attend festive parties together. This is true for those who stay far away from their hometowns.
While dating online, Indians like to work on their bio to showcase their interests, particularly the destination they would like to visit and food they like most. Sharing such interests can help spark connections, according to Samaddar.
In another interesting study, Bumble has found 63 per cent of Indians like women who make the first move while dating, even as 83 per cent seek commitment in their relationship.
Advice for lonely
Bumble has also some advice for those who may be lonely this festive season.
First, if you are lonely or away from your home, you can help yourself by acknowledging that you are not the only one to be alone. Second, cutting down your social media time would help you as you would not be inclined more toward drawing comparisons and becoming self-critical. Third, if you are lonely, focus on your well-being, it said.
“Don't feel pressured to date, instead consider dating on your own terms and timelines. Choose to date someone only if that person genuinely sparks your interest,” Ruchi Ruuh, Relationship Expert at Bumble, said. “You can enjoy the festival with or without a partner,” Ruuh added.
