Press release on 'The changing
face of Asian Marriages - an Internet Revolution'
in 'Asian Voice' by Mr. Bharat Raithatha
A great deal has been written and said in recent
years about the shift away from traditional arranged
marriage, particularly here in the UK. Yet the debate
rages on -should Asians hold fast to the old ways,
or embrace a new and different approach?
The new generation of Asians today have not only
adapted to the lifestyles of their new adopted country
and its culture but have also maintained the Asian
cultures and traditions, and this is clearly evident
in the marriages that takes place or search for a
life partner.
Whilst there are few arranged marriages within the
Asian community nowadays, the extended families have
always been involved in the search for a life partner
for their children, where the children are now given
the choice even to search for their partner, to meet
and get to know each other before they involve their
respective families and tie the knot.
We now have a second and third generation of Asians
who rejoice in a balance of cultural understanding
that covers both East and West with equal ease. And
they demand a greater degree of freedom of action
yet also respecting the wishes of their elders and
family traditions.
However, the problem is growing -there are so many
who remain unmarried after the age of say 30 years,
is in itself a major change in marriage patterns among
Asians. Most of these people are now in good positions
and stable employment looking for partners, yet have
found it very difficult to get married.
The trend is quite clear these days - most girls
looking a graduate, find stable employments and be
independent is in itself a major cultural change but
at the same time clock ticks by and you are already
30+ and still single. The days of marrying at such
a young age at 20 or even 23 are now gone. The true
Asians who have respected the decency demanded by
their culture and tradition or religion have resorted
to semi-arranged marriages, else how are they supposed
to find partners of their choice? "They are taking
the initiative themselves," obviously guided
by their parents says Bharat Raithatha, the business
editor of Matchmaker International Ltd.. Matchmaker
Magazine now solely for all backgrounds within the
Asian community.
Mr. Raithatha continued: "Through agencies like
our own, they have found a confidential and respectable
means of gaining introductions to like-minded prospective
partners of an appropriate religious and ethnic background.
The Matchmaker International Ltd.. Matchmaker Magazine
is a forum for those wishing to advertise their listings
and communicate freely through a Box number system
in a confidential way and many have found the love
of their dreams through this route as well.
Another cultural change is a new wave of speed dating
events bursting through UK where you can now have
up to 30 dates in one night in a nightclub with a
quick three minute chat with each prospective partner
and a new Asian generation ready to take on this new
challenge.
The Internet is another major cultural change where
it is now fashionable to register on so many sites
and seek the partner of your dreams using the technology.
As Mr. Raithatha said: "Our new Internet site
at www.perfect-partner.com lets interested parties
communicate to each other freely via emails by sending
their own personal messages and persue listings in
the privacy of their own homes via the Personal Internal
Messaging System (P.I.M.S) which is also capable of
sending ematch alerts to your email address. Prospective
partners can now make initial contact by e-mail and
gather relevant information before committing to an
initial meeting."
You will get people who are serious. The response
so far has been excellent with the site capturing
all backgrounds from all over the world and the number
of visitors reaching to over 4,50,000 per month. Asians
looking for partners now commnuicate interactively,
with so many who have become just good friends from
being complete strangers.
Media such as these are certainly fuelling the change
in Asian marriage tradition. A glance at the personal
details in one issue of the magazine indicates an
up-market and well-educated group of individuals seeking
partners for life and marriage. Interestingly, the
swing is not yet complete - the magazine and the Internet
site both carry details in a confidential manner placed
by parents hoping to arrange marriages for their children!
For more information please contact Bharat Raithatha
(ACMA B.A. Hons), Business Editor at M.I.L MATCHMAKER
MAGAZINE on 020 88681879 or by email bharat@perfect-partner.com
or visit www.perfect-partner.com.
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