New Delhi: India has always been considered a country of family and traditional relationships. Marriage is considered a sacred bond, but in changing times the form of relationships is gradually changing. Married people are now turning to discreet dating apps when they feel a lack of emotional support or relationships.
Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, famous for its temples and silk sarees, has now become the leading city in the country in terms of extramarital affairs. According to June 2025 data from global extra-marital dating platform Ashley Madison, Kanchipuram has secured the top position in the country. Last year it was at 17th position, but within a year it left behind even big cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
According to another popular app Gleeden, the number of its users in India has now crossed 40 lakh (4 million). Bengaluru tops the list, where 18 percent of the total users come from. It is followed by Hyderabad (17%), Delhi (11%), Mumbai (9%) and Pune (7%). This trend is more visible in IT hub cities due to busy lifestyle, work pressure and loneliness.
65 percent of the users on the app are men while 35 percent are women. There has been a huge increase of 148 percent in the registration of women in the last two years. Most of the users are between 25 and 50 years of age. More than 60 percent of people in Gleeden’s 2024 survey showed interest in non-traditional relationships like swinging and open relationships.
Many people cite emotional loneliness as the main reason for their busy schedules. The highest activity on the app is seen during lunch break (12 noon to 3 pm) and after 10 pm. In many cases, both husband and wife are aware of each other’s activities, but they prefer to remain silent. The concept of open marriage is also growing rapidly.
The increase of such activity in a small town like Kanchipuram is shocking for many people. This shows that the thinking regarding relationships is changing in big cities as well as tier-2 cities. However, these figures are based only on app usage and do not reflect the entire picture of the society. This new trend of relationships in changing India highlights the search for personal happiness and freedom, but also raises questions on traditional values.
