KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 12 — Dating apps and pickleball dates are not the only means to meet your soulmate. 

Some young Indians like Sharmmila Danabala prefer to rely on traditional Cupids like temples and matrimony services to find their destined match. 

Sharmmila, 29, met her now-husband Jagghen Darmalinggam, 30, at Suyamvaram last year. 

Suyamvaram is a matchmaking initiative organised by the Penang Hindu Association (PHA) with the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Penang for Hindus seeking prospects of marriage.

Both Sharmmila and Jagghen hail from Bukit Mertajam, Penang, but they never crossed paths until that fortunate day. 

At that time, Sharmmila, a biomedical science graduate, came simply to explore the matchmaking scene — having decided to get married only after landing a new job.

Meanwhile, Jagghen was determined to meet a life partner to settle down before he turned 30. 

Sharmmila’s bright and cheerful persona caught his eye and for Sharmmila, meeting Jagghen felt like “reconnecting with a long lost friend that I knew all my life.”

“Just a week after meeting him, I got a job in the telecommunications sector,” Sharmmila told Malay Mail. 

“He is a very loving, caring and a nice man. In this world, there are very few people who can be as caring as him,” she added. 

They then started meeting frequently for coffee dates and eventually tied the knot on August 29, 2025. 

They currently reside in Bayan Lepas, Penang. 

Likewise, Yuvanendran Muthiah, 41, met his now-wife Vinodhini Subramaniam, 38, during the first Suyamvaram held in 2022. 

Kedah-born Yuvanendran, who works as an IT technical support engineer, instantly clicked with Penang-born Vinodhini at the event. 

“When we started talking, I found her to be charming and cheerful. The conversation felt very comfortable,” Yuvanendran said, describing their first meet. 

Yuvanendran and Vinodhini were the first couple to get married through Suyamvaram in 2023 while Sharrmila and Jagghen are the tenth couple to tie the knot via the programme.

Suyamvaram has led to 10 successful marriages to date and one couple was also blessed with a baby last year. 

PHA president Datuk P. Murugiah said Suyamvaram continues to draw more young participants, including Malaysians living overseas but seeking life partners in Malaysia.

“Most of the local participants are from outstation. Last year, two Chinese Buddhist males from Johor also requested to join,” he said. 

Why is ‘Suyamvaram’ gaining traction?

Suyamvaram, which means “choosing one’s groom” in Tamil, is an ancient Indian custom that allows a princess to choose her husband through competitions organised for eligible suitors. 

PHA has revived the concept with a modern twist.

On Suyamvaram day, participants gather at the Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple with at least two family members with them. 

Then, they can choose the profiles that pique their interest and if the horoscopes match, both parties can begin discussing prospects of marriage. 

Small-scale matchmakings are also held monthly for those who could not attend the annual Suyamvaram event. 

Murugiah said the low birth rate and declining population of ethnic Indians — specifically Hindus — necessitate these interventions. 

“If the Hindu population continues to decline, there will be detrimental consequences to our temples, Tamil vernacular schools and community-led businesses.

“Temples used to serve as traditional marriage brokers in the past and they should embrace the role again,” he said. 

Murugiah said the high divorce rate among ethnic Indians has also left many young adults disillusioned with the idea of marriage.

Others, he said, tend to sideline the need for marriage due to career commitments — with some juggling two or more jobs to make ends meet. 

So, PHA also supports couples who get married through Suyamvaram with several incentives, including: 

• Discounts on wedding hall rentals, wedding attire and jewellery from selected vendors.
• RM500 for first child born to the couple. 
• Housing assistance from Penang government 

‘Serious and structured approach’

Besides matchmaking initiatives like Suyamvaram, some like Puchong-born Ravenapreya Baskaran, 29, also prefer seeking a life partner through matrimony services. 

Ravenapriya, who works as an administrative staff, met her husband Satthivel Segaran, a 29-year old businessman, through Dum Dum Matrimony.

They currently reside in Rantau, Negri Sembilan.  

“I never joined dating apps or social mixers. I only considered matrimony services because I wanted something more serious and family-oriented.

“Matrimony felt more genuine and trustworthy since everyone there was looking for a committed relationship rather than something casual,” Ravenapreya said. 

Dum Dum Matrimony’s managing director T. Sathiyavarmaan said the company currently serves over 6,000 users, with most of its clients comprising Indians from Malaysia and Singaporea.

Sathiyavarmaan and his wife Poshini Devi launched the service over WhatsApp during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

They managed to draw some 1,000 users on WhatsApp initally and following the overwhelming response, they launched a website in 2023. A mobile app followed suit last August. 

“In today’s world of swiping and casual dating, many singles still prefer a more serious and structured approach when it comes to marriage,” Sathiyavarmaan said. 

“Our clients often tell us they value our ability to involve family, verify profiles, and filter by culture or religion — things that dating apps don’t always offer”.