Matrimony websites boost matchmaking industry
The matchmaking industry, once a stronghold of newspapers and marriage bureaus, is taking new strides with the mushrooming of several matrimony websites offering "online and offline" help to bond couples for ever.
By PTI |
CHENNAI: The matchmaking industry, once a stronghold of newspapers and marriage bureaus, is taking new strides with the mushrooming of several matrimony websites offering "online and offline" help to bond couples for ever.
And the new technology has made it easier for people to find their life partners, going beyond the boundaries of caste, language and distance.
"Youngsters nowadays go beyond family status and caste, and look for personal values, hobbies, likes and dislikes. They want a qualitative compatibility," Murugavel Janakiraman, CEO of BharatMatrimony.com, a leading matrimony portal, told the media.
"We expect this industry to grow at 20 per cent per year. With about 10 million internet users accessing matrimonial sites, the online matrimonial market was about Rs 50 crore in 2005-06. This year, it is expected to reach Rs 90 crore, an 80 per cent growth," he said.
As an offshoot, the portals have come up with "offline" centres, where the "not so tech-savvy" and people who do not have access to the internet, can put up their profiles with the help of the professionals at the centre.
BharatMatrimony.com has over 45 such centres across the country and Shaadi.com, another premier portal, has about 100 offline centres called 'Shaadi Points'.
Shaadi.com plans to increase these offline centres to 500 by 2008 across the country, while BharatMatrimony.com wants to launch 300 more such centres.
And the new technology has made it easier for people to find their life partners, going beyond the boundaries of caste, language and distance.
"Youngsters nowadays go beyond family status and caste, and look for personal values, hobbies, likes and dislikes. They want a qualitative compatibility," Murugavel Janakiraman, CEO of BharatMatrimony.com, a leading matrimony portal, told the media.
"We expect this industry to grow at 20 per cent per year. With about 10 million internet users accessing matrimonial sites, the online matrimonial market was about Rs 50 crore in 2005-06. This year, it is expected to reach Rs 90 crore, an 80 per cent growth," he said.
As an offshoot, the portals have come up with "offline" centres, where the "not so tech-savvy" and people who do not have access to the internet, can put up their profiles with the help of the professionals at the centre.
BharatMatrimony.com has over 45 such centres across the country and Shaadi.com, another premier portal, has about 100 offline centres called 'Shaadi Points'.
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Shaadi.com plans to increase these offline centres to 500 by 2008 across the country, while BharatMatrimony.com wants to launch 300 more such centres.
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