Diwali 2026: New survey reveals the pressure most Indian singles feel during the festive season

Diwali has always been the perfect time for reunions familiar faces and catching up after ages But for Millennials who are still single it is also a time for an uncomfortable realisation they might be the last single friend in the group the realisation comes both from within and from external auditsIn a postDiwali survey by Indian dating app QuackQuack Indian singles above 28 years of age said what was once an ordinary gathering and a genuine chance to see old friends is slowly turning into quiet comparisons unsolicited advice and repeated questions about their marriage plansThe apps founder and CEO Ravi Mittal commented Being the last single friend in a group or the only cousin left to get married can be surprisingly isolating each gathering reinforces how much everyones lives are moving forward But the wish for companionship should not be overshadowed by the pressure to catch up with others milestonesThe study included 10000 online dating app users aged 28 to 35 years from metro and suburban regions of India Respondents included singles who were anticipating a Diwali meetup and a group that had one the previous year Daters revealed that the worst that can happen after a group meetup is that you suddenly stop seeking love and start trying to sync up with the rest of your friends this shift in priority which can lead to a rush to commit can be dangerousPostDiwali dating rushAccording to 49 per cent of single dating app users festive gatherings can unexpectedly affect dating decisions Meeting friends and family who are married or committed seeing them hit milestones and answering their queries about single life almost always leads to a renewed rush to find someone The survey found that 18 per cent of Indian singles said it made them more active on dating apps and led to meeting more compatible people but for the majority the aftermath of Diwali gatherings is usually cynical It said 39 per cent of women and 41 per cent of men shared that the urgency to find the perfect match does not usually come from a genuine wish to meet the one its more competitive than romantic Ananya 32 said I went through this last year I overlooked red flags just so that Im not single next Diwali but look how it worked out We eventually broke upCatching up or status updateAkansha 29 from Mumbai said Diwali party is supposed to be fun right But this year the same fun party just made me feel extra single The survey said 4857 respondents from Tier 1 and 2 cities said festive gatherings can quickly turn into a QnA session for Millennials who are yet to find their person Moreover discussions about family planning buying a new house together or anniversaries unintentionally highlight what singles are missing from their lives Harsh 30 from Pune said Even if no one asks you about marriage girlfriend or future plans you will still end up feeling consciously alone It also found that 38 per cent of Indian dating singles above 30 years of age admitted they were mentally prepared to be grilled and even practiced how to answer the inevitable whens your turnChanging equation with friendsThe survey found that 37 per cent of the last single friend in a group said that friendship dynamics begin to change Akhil 33 said Diwali gettogethers are arranged keeping everyones schedule in mind except for the single friend Everyone expects us to be free at all times It further said that 7 in 10 singles said that their friends gravitate toward other couples and 19 per cent of Indian dating singles between 28 and 35 years of age said that conversations become scarce as their daily life looks quite different The survey said 2984 single men and 3384 single women said they even felt like a third wheel or the spare person at gatherings especially when conversations activities and even seating arrangements become couplecentric