(Hindu) match

Megan Sweas

|

Apr 20, 2012

LOS ANGELES (RNS) Kamna Mittal and her husband moved to the Bay Area soon after they were

married in India in 2000. In addition to being in a new country, the couple were new to each other.

Their marriage had been arranged.

"When you go for an arranged marriage," she said,

"it's a total gamble."

Now a mother of two, Mittal counts herself lucky

that it worked out, but 12 years later, she wants to

help Indian-American singles in the Bay Area meet

directly.

Turns out even love can use a little help every now

and then, and the age-old practice of arranged

Hindu marriages is getting a 21st-century

makeover.

Sapna Thakur, 34, recently moved to the Bay Area and attended Mittal's first mixer in February, a

Valentine's Day-themed singles party. "Why not? Give it a shot," she thought before going.

"It was a bit awkward in the beginning but then it was fine because there were a lot of games and

people were mingling. I had a nice time."