This is the time of the year when houses are agreed with lights, the valuable decoration comes out of storage, the kitchen is discussed with festive feasts, and the families gather for centuries old rituals. The festival season has arrived. Starting with Durga Puja and Dussehra, and continues through Diwali and New Year, these months are a tornado of celebration.

This makes this season so unique that it is both collective and deep. Everyone has their own way of marking the celebration; For some, Diwali means a card party with friends, while for others, it is about an intimate family feast.

But festivals are not just shaping traditions; They are also shaping relationships. Yes, you read that right. According to a survey of app Quacquelk dating, two of the five used Navratri and Durga Puja as a yardstick for cultural compatibility.

More than rituals, these festivals have become outposts to evaluate whether a potential partner aligns with someone’s traditions, values, beliefs and even family expectations.

Survey, which assembled the reactions of 11,000 people between the ages of 20 to 35 in Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities, some interesting insights revealed:

• In the metro and suburbs, 32 percent of datars accepted to judge the matches quietly on the basis of festivals.
• 44 percent of the active datars aged 22 to 28 years said that apathy towards the festival is a delivery.
• Interestingly, for four of the five in this group, it was not about religious belief, but about emotionality; Emotional connections bring festivals.

As usual, food also plays a big role in these festivals. Since eating habits vary in areas, they sometimes affect dating options.

For example, 16 percent of people who say fast that they will not date someone who chooses for feast. But things are changing: According to the survey, more than 31 percent of the people have felt last year that it has now softened its stance, after realizing that the feast is also an important tradition in many parts of India.

But the way someone celebrates really defines his ability as a partner?

For Nimita Das (name changed), festivals play an important role in shaping her romantic options. “I am Bengali, and for me, marrying someone from my community was not about the tradition alone; it was about the soul of my festivals, especially Durga Puja,” she explains.

“Emotions, rituals, initial to listen to every palace to wake up at 4 am ChandipathWhether in San Francisco or Siliguri, it is something that can actually share and understand from within the community itself. ,

In contrast, Amol Malhotra (name changed) reaches the case with flexibility. For him, his partner’s way of celebrating festivals is not a delivery.

He said, “I am celebrating the festivals on a grand scale, but I am open to observe them in ways that my partner likes,” he said, “whether it is a big family matter, or there is only an intimate celebration between us, and even the food we can adapt.

Festive influence

While there is a litmus test for compatibility for some festivals, for others they are a common experience that is open to interaction and personal expression.

Dr. Divya Shri KR, Advisor, Psychiatry, Ester CMI Hospital, Bangalore, tells Today India That festivals can have a strong impact on the relationship because they bring people closer and make shared memories.

“Celebrating together helps couples, families and friends to spend quality time, exchange gifts and to show care. Traditions and rituals give a sense of relaxing and strengthening emotional bonds. The festivals also reduce joy, laughter and positive energy by adding stress, which improves understanding between partners.”

However, they can sometimes cause stress if expectations are not managed or if financial pressure is high.

Why culture matters in love

Dr. According to Sri, cultural alignment is very important in a relationship because it helps two people share normal values, beliefs and traditions. “When partners understand each other’s culture, it becomes easier to communicate, celebrate and decide together. Equal customs and lifestyle reduce misunderstandings and bring comfort to daily life.”

She shares that even though partners come from various cultures, can balance respect and acceptance. Without alignment, conflict can arise on traditions, family expectations, or ways to live life.

“Cultural harmony creates faith, respect and emotional proximity, which are important for a strong bond,” Dr. Sri says.

Delhi -based Relationship Counselor, Ruchi Ruh agrees that today in relationships, cultural alignment has become very important.

“People have limited time, resources and budgets, so to be on the same page about matters, ceremonies and matters of special occasions.”

However, she says that cultural alignment does not mean whether you have to come from the same background or everything is common. It is about mutual honor, flexibility and the desire to embrace the customs and traditions of each other. True alignment is about tolerance and respect; To be open to how your partner practices his values ​​while creating a shared experience together.

Does shared culture strengthen love?

For Ruuh, culturally aligned relationships do not mean equality. It is not about the same traditions, but about mutual respect, tolerance and evaluation of each other’s customs. When the partners share such alignment, the struggle around family obligations, traditions and ceremonies is less, making the time of high-stress too much smooth.

She shares a couple that are open to learn and adopt each other’s cultures, they can only grow as those who share a background.

In addition, Dr. Shree tells us that while love and effort are important, sharing a common cultural foundation is more likely to smooth, happy, and longer.

“A similar cultural background reduces misunderstandings and struggle about family, religion and daily habits. Even though small differences exist, respect and compromise help to maintain harmony,” she says.

Festivals: New Test for Love

Festivals can be a great litmus test for joints, feels interest. They are high-stress times, but at the same time there are fun, planning and managing many things simultaneously. How does a partner participate PrayerOr how tolerant they are of your customs, can reveal a lot about their honor for your traditions.

Along with the families involved, the joints also get a glimpse of how each other can react or adjust their needs. In this way, festivals provide a unique opportunity to understand how both of you fit into large ecosystems of each other values, traditions and expectations, and can reveal compatibility for the future.

Dr. Shri agrees and says that during the celebration, people reveal their attitude towards culture, rituals and solidarity, which reflects their upbringing and mentality. “More people today use it as a criterion because relationships are not only about two individuals, but also about families and shared values. The festivals provide a natural place to see real behavior, which makes it easy to decide whether the match will work or not.”

Should festivals be a decisive factor?

According to experts, while festivals can play an important role in relationships, they should not be the only decisive factor. How a partner is attached during festivals can show his attitude towards family values, wealth, community and shared responsibilities.

However, love, belief, communication and shared goals live equally, if not more, it is not important for a strong relationship. Because both the festival are joyful and stressful, they naturally reveal a lot about the values, adaptability and nature of a partner.

In this sense, they can serve as a guide that highlights cultural alignment and compatibility, but the overall strength of a relationship depends on mutual understanding, emotional support and connection.