The government has said it opposes recognising same-sex marriage and urged the Supreme Court to reject challenges to the current legal framework lodged by LGBTQ couples. A ruling is expected this year, though the court has not announced a date.

Inspired by Bollywood celebs, modern Indian brides fight sexist wedding rituals

The issue of gay marriage is sensitive: speaking openly about homosexuality is taboo for many Indians.

But attitudes are shifting: 53 per cent of Indian adults say same-sex marriage should be legal, found a June report by the Pew Research Center, a US polling and research organisation.

Previous Ipsos polls found 29 per cent supported same-sex marriage in 2015 and 44 per cent in 2021.

Madan, whose clients call her “the LGBTQ+ Sima auntie” in reference to the popular Netflix reality show Indian Matchmaking, said she has witnessed growing acceptance among parents and families first-hand.

“I have had a father from a [conservative] background call and say, ‘Please find a bride for my daughter’,” said Madan, who set up her matrimonial and counselling company Aarzoo in 2018.

Saurabh Bondre, a Sanskrit scholar who officiates non-legally binding traditional Hindu weddings for gay and lesbian couples, said legalising same-sex marriage would assuage priests’ fears about legal disputes or boycotts.

“Many professional Hindu priests are actually not against performing such weddings. They are fearful of a backlash from within the priest community,” Bondre said. “If you perform a same-sex wedding, you may not get [invited to carry out] straight weddings afterwards, costing you your livelihood.”

Bondre, who is a member of the LGBTQ community, said many same-sex couples wanted traditional religious marriage ceremonies, in line with cultural norms.

“We see our uncles, aunts, cousins and friends reiterating their love for each other,” he said. “We also dream that we will have a similar commitment.”

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Sameer Sreejesh, founder of LGBTQ matrimony app Umeed, said the Supreme Court case had prompted a rush of LGBTQ people across the country to openly admit their sexual identities and seek life partners.

The app’s daily downloads had doubled since the marriage equality court hearings began on April 18, he said.

“We’re adding more than a hundred members every day, even though we’re spending less than before on ads,” Sreejesh said.

Umeed currently has about 20,000 registered members and 5,000-6,000 active members daily.

Though the app makes a small profit of a few thousand rupees a month from memberships, Sreejesh anticipates huge growth.

“If the verdict comes in our favour, there are millions of people waiting,” he said.