Mumbai’s Monsoon Speed Dating Event Proves Face-to-Face Still Beats Swiping

Umbrellas, butterflies and first impressions — Mumbai’s singles didn’t let the monsoon rain dampen their search for love. The Bombay Times Life.Styled Club hosted a speed dating event that brought together strangers looking to make real-life connections, complete with quirky ice-breakers, dare challenges, compliment rounds and two-minute dates.

For 26-year-old Priyanka Mahajan, the evening delivered exactly what she was looking for. She clicked with one participant during a two-minute speed date and is excited to see where the connection leads. ‘This event totally worked for me. Meeting someone in person is so much better than judging them through profile pictures,’ she said.

Kishan Kavadia, in his 20s, has attended a speed dating event before and believes the format beats dating apps. ‘You get to see a person’s body language and personality immediately,’ he said. Mahima Kori, 26, who learnt about the event through a Times of India ad, found the experience refreshing. ‘The whole process of texting someone and then meeting is exhausting. Meeting people physically saves so much time,’ she said. She received compliments from three people during a compliment round and connected with one, while still hoping to talk to another participant who caught her attention. ‘I’m going to continue talking to a couple of guys after this event,’ she said.

Vatsal Sagar, the social host, said the goal of the meet-up was to move people from URL to IRL. ‘Real connections begin when you interact in person, and that’s exactly what we wanted participants to experience and embrace,’ he said.

The event also drew participants like 39-year-old single mother Priyanka Amar, who said she preferred meeting people the traditional way. ‘I’m old school. If I have to restart my life, I’d rather meet someone in person than through an app,’ she said.