Take a look at this dating service advertisement I found in the U.A.E. based Khaleej Times today. Notice the first drop down menu where you would normally indicate male or female.

Shaadi.com describes itself as 'the most preferred online matrimonial site for Indians'. I'd be interested in knowing to what extent it is actually a matrimonial site and to what extent it is a Western style dating agency presenting itself in accordance with Indian standards of decency. Does anybody know?

---

UPDATE: My friend Praveen believes Shaadi.com is a genuine matrimonial site and is simply a modern day extension of the still alive-and-well Indian tradition of arranged marriages. Participants do go on dates first but the understanding is that they are headed in the direction of marriage. Praveen further notes that shaadi means marriage in Hindi and that if any Indians want casual dating they can go to any number of Western-style dating websites instead.