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News18
3 days ago
- Climate
- News18
Monsoon, Moods And Matches: Why The Rainy Season Hits Different For Gen Z On Dating Apps
Last Updated: Chai in hand. Lo-fi music in the background. A late-night video chat with your match. This season is not just about rain, it is about connection. For India's Gen Z, monsoon isn't just a season, it's a vibe. As skies turn grey and playlists turn lo-fi, young daters on Tinder are embracing the rain-soaked mood as a backdrop for deeper, slower, and more intentional connections. Dating app data shows the season is doing more than just setting the tone, it's shifting how Gen Z connects. Mentions of 'rain" in app bios rose by over 12% in June 2025 compared to January 2025, while 'chai" saw a nearly 19% spike. But why is monsoon the new matchmaker on the dating app? 'The monsoon isn't just a weather shift; it's an emotional softening', says Dr. Chandni Tugnait, Tinder's Relationship Expert in India. 'The slower pace, overcast skies, and rhythmic rain create a sensory pause that pulls people inward. It invites reflection, coziness, and meaningful presence – three key ingredients for emotional connection. For Gen Z, who often navigate fast-paced digital spaces, the monsoon feels like permission to slow down and feel.' ● Ultimate snack flex: 'Chai chai chai all the way" warmed the most hearts, followed by 'Roasted butta (corn)" because the way to a Gen Z heart might just be through rainy-day comfort food. ● Favourite thing about monsoon: 'Geeli mitti ki khushboo (the smell of wet sand)" was the top response because nothing says it's time to fall (in love) like that first whiff of petrichor. ● Top monsoon love language: 'Rain dance, obviously" stole the show, turns out romance can be spontaneous and soaked. ● Ideal date vibe: 'Long drives and old songs" and 'Chai–pakoda date" blended the timeless with the tender. To match the mood, the dating app is tapping into this energy with features such as: ● Video Chat: For chai dates across cities—without leaving your home. ● Double Date: Now available in India, it lets you match alongside your bestie, ideal for the nearly 60% of young singles who turn to friends for dating advice.3 ● Explore & Interests: From Binge Watchers and Music Lovers to tags like Maggi and Biryani, food and pop culture are sparking real-time bonds. Biryani was also one of India's top interests in 2024. ● Communication Style: Whether you're a Video Chatter, Phone Caller, or Big Time Texter, you can match based on how you actually like to stay in touch. And while it may start with a virtual chat, the IRL (In Real Life) potential is just as strong. According to Tinder's 2024 Modern Dating Report, 57% of Indian daters have met offline after connecting on the app. That could mean a roadside chai stop or just quietly sitting together as the rain pours. This monsoon, it's the S-low effort rituals doing the heavy lifting. Dr Chandni Tugnait shares, 'When someone sends you a rain-themed playlist or a chai emoji at 4 PM, they're saying, 'I thought of you in this moment." That shared sensory language creates emotional micro-bonds. These rituals act like digital love languages. A poem sent mid-rainstorm or a lo-fi track shared over DMs says more than words: it says, 'we're syncing moods, not just schedules." For Gen Z, who value aesthetic expression and emotional nuance, these shared moments feel far more intimate than traditional dating gestures. It's not about grandeur; it's about presence. And in the early stages of dating, that presence is everything. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
27-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
We take pride in being like our mothers, but some legacies need letting go
On one really tiring Sunday, past midnight, when I should've been in bed, I found myself in the kitchen, wrapping up after the guests had left. It was a Sunday evening, yet I couldn't bring myself to refuse visiting relatives. And despite my husband's insistence, I refused to order dinner from outside. I slogged through it, wasted my Sunday, and there I was, still in the kitchen, feeling obnoxiously drained, already dreading the start of another didn't think much of it until I came across a post by an acquaintance on Mother's Day that read: 'I am a lot like my mother, but I'm not proud of it.' It was a simple post, yet it struck a chord. She talked about how certain behaviours were ingrained in her by her mother, things she now knows she doesn't want to pass on to her own children. She wrote, 'It's not that she was bad or that we were deprived in any way. But it was her conditioning that I couldn't, or rather, trying hard to unlearn.'That post stayed with me. It made me reflect on my own conditioning, as a child, as a woman. Everything I've learned, from kitchen chores to balancing home and work, has my mother's influence woven through it. Including the automatic, almost compulsive instinct to serve home-cooked food whenever guests arrive. Is it also possible that behind that resilience was a woman who was tired, angry, lonely, but too dignified to say it out loud? (Photo: Generative AI) advertisement The writer wasn't vilifying her mother. She was simply questioning the legacy, the conditioning. And it made me wonder: how many of us are doing the exact same thing? Passing on the same quiet sacrifices with a ribbon of duty and love wrapped around them.'Many women grew up watching their mothers equate sacrifice with strength,' says Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist and founder of Gateway of Healing. 'They watched them hold families together, suppress emotions, stretch themselves thin, and somewhere, they absorbed the idea that this is what it means to be a good woman.'We often celebrate this as resilience. And to be fair, it is. But is it also possible that behind that resilience was a woman who was tired, angry, lonely, but too dignified to say it out loud?Absy Sam, a counselling psychologist based in Mumbai, opens up about this tug-of-war with honesty. 'My mother was a superwoman, a medical officer, a community teacher, a mother who did it all. But in doing it all, she lost bits of herself. I saw her take care of everyone's health but never really prioritise her own. That's one legacy I'm consciously breaking. I do not want to be a mom who has it all. I want to be a mom who is whole.'advertisementDr Tugnait calls it the myth of the 'one perfect role.' Sridevi in a still from English Vinglish. (Photo: IMDb) 'Women were expected to be caregivers, peacemakers, and perfectionists. But life doesn't need one mask; it needs authenticity. It needs women to know they're allowed to be soft and assertive. Nurturing and angry. Devoted and ambitious.'The hardest part? The most of us, stepping away from how our mothers conditioned us to be could feel like betrayal, even if it is for our survival. We struggle to separate gratitude from obligation. As Dr Chandni puts it, 'Gratitude says, 'I see you, I thank you, and now I'll walk my own way.' Obligation whispers, 'You owe her your choices.' But when we confuse the two, we end up living a life we didn't choose, out of love, yes, but also out of fear.'Anusree Sen, 58, is a Kolkata-based teacher born in the mid-60s as the fifth daughter in a traditional Indian family. She recalls how her own mother, despite being modern and educated, still couldn't support her fully when it came to big life was selected for a job in Delhi after a diploma from NIIT, a big deal back in 1990, but I was married off instead. Later, when I had a chance to work night shifts in a corporate job, I was asked to let it go for the sake of the family.' And yet, she adds, her mother's views evolved over time. 'As she saw how the world was changing, she encouraged us to let our daughters fly. Today, mine is pursuing a PhD in Sonipat, and I'm proud she has that freedom, and I also take pride in the fact that I let go of certain conditioning.'For Absy, the journey hasn't been about rejecting her mother, it's been about reclaiming what feels right. 'My mom taught me communication, consent, empathy; these are gifts I cherish and pass on to my daughter. But I'm also learning to say no, to rest, to not please everyone. I want my daughter to see that strength doesn't come from silence. It comes from boundaries.'advertisementThere's beauty in recognising both, what to hold on to, and what to let go what many might wonder is: what about the men, the sons of the household? Shouldn't they also reflect on the legacies passed down by their mothers?The answer lies in recognising that simply watching their mothers endure everything, and assuming that's how it should be — is where the problem a telling scene in the underrated film Akaash Vani (directed by Luv Ranjan), where Sunny Singh's character, Ravi, expects his wife to serve him dinner and do the 'needful' after he returns from work, even when she tells him she's in excruciating menstrual pain. His response? 'Humne apni maa ko toh kabhi kehte nahi suna ki woh down hain, isliye khaana khud lena padega.' (We never heard our mother say she was 'down,' so we had to get our own food.) A still from Akaash Vani. (Photo: YouTube) And that's exactly what men can unlearn. They should make sure, just because their mothers went through it, the story doesn't have to be repeated for their wives or perhaps maybe, just maybe, one day our daughters and sons will say, 'I'm a lot like my mother. And I'm proud, not because she did it all, but because she chose what mattered. And she chose herself too.'- EndsMust Watch
Hindustan Times
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Music is the new love language for Gen Z: Expert shares how it reveals compatibility
Music is the new love language for Gen Z, with playlists and favourite tracks acting as subtle signs of emotional compatibility. Music helps circumvent the challenge of putting feelings into words. As per Tinder's data, music ranks among the top five interests for Indian Gen Z users, with 54 percent saying a shared taste makes someone more attractive and 35 percent using it to understand personality and compatibility. In a world where feelings are either unsaid or filtered, music taste gives an inside glimpse into these feelings. Music is also one of the key indicators of compatibility.(Shutterstock) Dr Chandni Tugnait, Tinder's relationship expert in India, shared with HT Lifestyle the growing importance of music in today's dating culture and its role in understanding compatibility. Explaining the significance of music, she said, 'As a relationship expert, I see music as more than a mood; it's a mirror to emotional wiring. It's not about judging taste, it's about noticing what resonates.' ALSO READ: Casual to committed relationship: 3 smart tips to approach 'are we exclusive yet?' conversation without killing the vibe What does your music taste tell about you? Your playlist can be your personality as well. Songs, too, have personalities, shaped by the instruments, tempo, and tone they carry. Further elaborating on the different moods based on the music, Tinder's relationship expert shared, 'Music offers a window into someone's inner world. People who vibe with high-energy anthems often seek bold, fast-paced sparks in love, while soft ballads might point to a desire for emotional safety and introspection. Even genre preferences reveal subtle cues, electronic lovers crave spontaneity, while singer-songwriter fans tend to lean into emotional depth.' Can music be used for a compatibility check? Music helps couples to bond with each other. (Shutterstock) Everyone has a playlist, and among younger generations, they are quick to swap them as a way to gauge each other. Tinder's relationship expert called playlists a 'self-authored mood board'. Dr Chandni said,'Your playlist is a self-authored mood board. It shows not only how you feel, but how you want to be seen. When your playlist feels understood, you feel understood. It creates instant rapport.' Moreover, a playlist can also be made together, co-curating songs. It is a kind of intimate way of expressing emotions without the pressure of words. Dr Chandni added, "For Gen Z, music acts as an emotional shorthand; it's often where people say what they can't articulate: what they long for, what they fear, and what they hope to attract. So when two people co-curate a playlist, they're not just sharing songs, they're quietly mapping emotional range, resonance, and connection.' When music fails the vibe-check test, what to do? But not all the time will both of you groove to the same beats. Sometimes, the reality can be jarring, and understandably so, because everyone has different tastes. Dr Chandni explained what happens when partners have polar opposite music preferences, and when it can actually become a problem. She explained, 'For Gen Z, music is emotional language, clashing tastes aren't a dealbreaker, rather they're more like a dial-in. Shared music taste doesn't guarantee compatibility, but it can fast-track emotional safety; when your playlist feels understood, you feel understood. Compatibility isn't about liking the same artist; it's about being emotionally fluent in each other's rhythms. The real deal breaker is when someone belittles the emotional world your music represents.'
India Today
11-06-2025
- General
- India Today
Can relationships be taught as a curriculum in a classroom?
Seems like your call with your best friend is about to get shorter, because Delhi University (DU) has launched a course that will cover everything from understanding love and friendships to spotting red flags and building healthier couldn't have come at a better time, as more and more teenagers grow vulnerable due to social media exposure and struggle to differentiate right from wrong. They even struggle to understand basic emotions like love and anger (as shown in Adolescence).advertisementStarting from the 2025–26 academic session, DU's Department of Psychology is offering a new elective titled 'Negotiating Intimate Relationships', as part of a broader initiative that also includes new courses like Media Psychology and Psychology of Adjustment. There's been plenty of hulaballoo around the need to bring such topics into the curriculum, and finally, someone is listening. Needless to say, the announcement has generated a lot of anticipation, and, of course, one big question that everyone seems to be asking: Is it actually going to make a difference?India Today tried to understand the sentiment by speaking to parents as well as relationship experts.A new breed of emotionally aware loversWith the introduction of a course that helps students understand relationships and its intricacies better, will we be able to welcome a new breed of emotionally aware lovers/partners?advertisementRuchi Ruuh, a Delhi-based relationship expert, feels maybe. 'Young adults today are navigating an incredibly complex emotional landscape. This course can offer something that can help them navigate this complexity, like long-distance relationships, situationships, digital intimacy, complex relationship dynamics and even burnout from dating apps. What these young people can learn is the vocabulary, psychological insight and communication tools to express and understand relationships.'This method demystifies conflict and reframes 'disagreements' as problem-solving exercises. Relationship fluency can hinge on reflective journaling prompts that prompt learners to chart their attachment patterns, triggers, and strengths. Regular self-assessment establishes self-awareness, an essential prerequisite for a healthy Chandni Tugnait, the founder of Gateway of Healing and a well-known relationship coach, agrees as well. She is of the opinion that this course can help demystify conflict and reframe 'disagreements' as problem-solving vs lived experienceOf course, love isn't a formula, and emotional intelligence isn't taught via chalkboard equations. Then, how do we see this making a difference?'Relationships are about doing, about how we respond to life, modelled from caregivers and past experiences,' explains Ruchi. 'But a course like this can help students process their experiences more consciously.'She compares it to learning about nutrition: 'Just because you study it doesn't mean you'll be fit, but it makes you aware. Likewise, relationship education won't prevent heartbreaks, but it can teach boundaries, empathy, and awareness.'More than just love talkIn a society where sex education is still taboo, will this course be able to make a difference? It could at least make a dent, both experts believe. While the course title includes 'relationships,' it's not just about dating. It's about consent. Communication. Respect. And perhaps most importantly, emotional all the scepticism that you hear about sex education cannot be entirely denied, this initiative could be a much-needed nudge forward.'It can help normalise discussions about consent, emotional boundaries, and digital intimacy, creating a stage for topics that are otherwise sidelined. "Role-plays and scenario analysis can demystify consent and communication, offering students concrete language and techniques before they face real situations,' Dr Tugnait she also expresses her apprehensions. 'If the curriculum stops at basic consent models and attachment-style overviews, it risks merely scratching the surface. True bridge-building requires candid exploration of sexual health, pleasure, power dynamics, and cultural stigmas, areas often omitted in relationship-only courses. Incorporating expert panels- counsellors, sexual-health educators, and supervised peer discussions can deepen the material, transforming abstract concepts into lived skills.'Sooner the better?advertisementAnother much-talked-about aspect of this course has been the time. Many are of the opinion that introducing something like this should be done earlier, in school, in fact, when the child is developing and in the receptive mode. Experts don't differ either.'By high school, most young people are already navigating crushes, heartbreaks, peer pressure and even toxic dynamics, most often in silence. Introducing relationship literacy early can help teens build emotional regulation, understand consent, respect boundaries, and most importantly, unlearn harmful patterns in relationships,' says Ruchi Tugnait breaks down the cons of introducing such subjects into the curriculum:advertisementEarly emotional literacy development: Introducing relationship education in high school helps students build emotional vocabulary and self-awareness before intense feelings overwhelm and boundary skills: Adolescents often lack clear guidance on consent and personal boundaries. A structured course can teach them to recognise verbal and non-verbal cues, negotiate comfort levels, and respect others' relationship navigation: Teens' first romantic experiences frequently occur online, through texting, social media, or dating apps. Hence, the of toxic patterns: Early exposure to concepts like power imbalances, emotional manipulation, and healthy conflict resolution helps students to spot red flags in real talk**Mr. Arjun Tiwari's daughter studies in Class 11 at a reputed Delhi school. When asked what he thinks about DU's new initiative, he said, 'It's a good initiative. There are things we cannot always talk about with our children, and there's a constant fear about whether they're on the right path. I just hope this is done properly, so students truly take away the understanding they need when it comes to modern relationships.'**Surabhi Mathur's son just graduated, and she feels this should have come much earlier. 'I would've been really happy if my son had had the opportunity when he was in college. It's a welcome change, but let's not expect too much too soon.'**Note: (Name Changed)
Indian Express
15-05-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
All about Yutori, the Japanese concept to avoid burnout, and balance work, self-care
The Japanese concept of Yutori is like an antidote to the pressures of fast-paced modern life. Deeply rooted in Japanese culture, Yutori refers to the concept of creating mental and physical space for relaxation, reflection, and a more balanced approach to life. 'It encourages slowing down, reducing the constant rush, and making room for both productivity and peace,' said Dr Chandni Tugnait, psychotherapist, founder and director, Gateway of Healing. The idea centers around how the lack of mental or physical space can lead to stress, burnout, and diminished well-being. 'This concept, which has its origins in education and work environments, has grown to encompass broader aspects of life, suggesting that individuals should create breathing room in their schedules, not only for work but also for self-care, creativity, and moments of leisure. It is a response to the hustle culture that often prioritises efficiency over well-being,' said Dr Tugnait. Yutori serves as a reminder of the importance of balance. Dr Tugnait asserted that yutori is not just about slowing down; it's about creating an environment where both work and personal life can coexist harmoniously. With technology and connectivity creating an always-on environment, the need for space to recharge, reflect, and rejuvenate has never been more critical. Dr Tugnait said that the current global atmosphere of constant change and high expectations makes the concept of Yutori highly relevant, especially for those seeking emotional and mental equilibrium. Here are a few ways to adapt Yutori into daily life: Cultivate non-productive time: Schedule moments where you do nothing at all, allowing your mind and body to reset without any task-driven expectations. Reframe time as a flow: View your day as a natural flow, balancing effort and ease, rather than focusing solely on completing tasks. Create zero-pressure zones: Designate areas in your home or life where there is no expectation of productivity, zones that exist solely for relaxation or creativity. Curate social interactions: Prioritise meaningful relationships that replenish you emotionally, rather than filling your schedule with obligations. By adapting the concept of Yutori, we can cultivate a lifestyle that values quality over quantity, calmness over chaos, and mindful living over mindless productivity.
