IAC Culture Talks 2026 #2: Online Dating and the Rolling Canvas of Indian Weddings in Sydney by Associate Professor Asha Chand

Date: Thursday, 23 September, 2026

Time: 5:00pm – 6:00pm (Sydney time)

Zoom webinar. Please RSVP HERE

For many cultures, dating is never simply about two individuals meeting. It is shaped by and rooted in traditions, cultural values and expectations around love, relationship, gender, family, marriage, social status, and belonging. What may seem like a personal choice can therefore carry layers of cultural meaning. For the second session of the IAC Culture Talks 2026 series, we are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Asha Chand, who will speak about her research on Online Dating and the Rolling Canvas of Indian Weddings in Sydney.

Abstract

In an era of hyper-connectivity and fast-paced lifestyles, digital media technologies are profoundly reshaping the identities, relationships, and cultural practices of the Indian diaspora in Australia. Online dating platforms, matrimonial websites, and social media have transformed how Indian migrants seek life partners, allowing them to navigate intimate relationships while preserving deeply held cultural values surrounding marriage, family, education, professional achievement, and social compatibility. Although globalisation and digital communication have expanded opportunities for partner choice, they have simultaneously reinforced cultural continuity by encouraging marriage within the Indian diaspora.

Alongside these developments, Bollywood has emerged as a powerful cultural force influencing contemporary wedding practices. Consumed religiously across the diaspora, Bollywood films inspire couples to recreate cinematic wedding spectacles through elaborately choreographed ceremonies, luxurious décor, designer fashion, and professionally curated performances. Weddings have evolved into immersive, movie-like productions documented through high-definition photography, videography, drones, and social media, where every moment is captured, shared, and celebrated across digital platforms. The "Big Fat Indian Wedding" has become synonymous with glamour, extravagance, and spectacle, featuring destination celebrations, helicopter arrivals, celebrity-style entrances, and personalised themes that rival Bollywood film sets.

While these celebrations remain rooted in traditional rituals and family values, they increasingly incorporate innovative technologies and contemporary aesthetics. Wedding planners, photographers, fashion designers, decorators, make-up artists, and caterers collaborate to blend tradition with modern creativity, producing highly personalised events that celebrate both cultural heritage and global influences. Songs, dance performances, cinematic storytelling, and digital broadcasts have become integral to wedding rituals, transforming private family occasions into public performances of identity, success, and social prestige. In multicultural Australia, Indian weddings have become powerful expressions of cultural continuity while simultaneously serving as visible markers of wealth, status, and aspiration.

About the Speaker