02 March,2026 04:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: File pic
Holi is all about colours, and it is also about spontaneity. There are tons of unexpected reunions at Holi parties, sudden plans, and colors flying through the air. "Bura na mano, Holi hai" describes the real essence of the day, but Indian daters think that, leaving everything aside, this free pass for the day should be slowly removed from the Holi narrative.
In fact, according to a survey by Indian dating app, QuackQuack, nearly 48 per cent of young daters are embracing a consent-first interaction and dating style to counter the rampant use of "bura na mano" during this festival of colours. The app's Founder and CEO, Ravi Mittal, commented, "Respect matters more than spontaneity right now. Moreover, how we celebrate festivals reflects how society is evolving. Today's daters want fun without making others uncomfortable; consent is no longer perceived as a limitation but a necessity. Every year, we see new dating trends around every major festival; this year's trend shows how young daters are prioritizing trust, boundaries, and the comfort of their matches."
The study was done among 11,000 daters ranging between 20 and 35 from metros, suburbs and rural parts of India. The findings are based on responses from dating app users active for six months or more. The survey examined dating behaviour around the festival and changing expectations.
The biggest cultural shift noted this Holi is how attraction and attractiveness are being redefined. Grand gestures, impulsive messages, and spontaneous matching once dominated the festival of colors in the digital space, but now, slow and calculated connections and respectful behaviour carry a stronger emotional appeal. 33% of daters between 25 and 35 shared that matches who checked in on boundaries, comfort, and asked before moving on to deeper and more personal conversations were perceived as more emotionally mature and relationship material. 6 out of 10 users who met their match IRL at pre-Holi parties disclosed that they asked for consent before applying color. They also mentioned something very important: consent has moved from being a rule to a love language, and that makes a huge difference in how seeking permission is perceived.
Holi comes with slight safety concerns, especially for women. Whether it is unwanted interactions or bold advances, the survey report shows 6 in 10 women have felt unsafe IRL around this time. For the same reason, QuackQuack reports seeing a spike in traffic, with female users preferring online platforms over offline encounters. 38% of women from Tier 1, 2, and 3 cities said they prefer virtual dates over meeting in person during the festival of colors. Niharika (28) from Delhi said, "It's not like I don't trust my match, I don't trust the rest of the people on the street. Virtual dates are my go-to around this time of the year. It keeps me connected to my match, and I don't need to compromise on my safety either."
From the festival of color to the festival of soft launches, Holi has come a long way. 28% of daters between 20 and 30 shared that they skipped Valentine's Day and picked Holi as the perfect time to soft-launch their relationship in a more desi style.
Gen Z and Millennial daters from metros and suburbs are looking at the festival not only as a celebration but also as an emotional reset point. Unlike a few years ago, when Holi was about random flirting and catching fleeting emotions, 31% of daters are using the occasion to consciously let go of past baggage and build intentional connections with matches who show long-term potential.
