He also says arranged marriages have begun to diversify in nature, ranging from his own situation, in which friends introduced the families, to matrimonial advertisements placed in newspapers and over the Internet.

"These sorts of things were less prevalent in earlier time periods," he says. "This has really taken off in the last three or four years. There are a number of Web sites that you can reach through a site called Samachar. The so-called arranged marriages have used the new technology as much as any other institution has made use of the new technology."

The matrimonial ads in the newspaper India Abroad, for example, specify things such as age, religion, caste, complexion, profession or other factors important to the family.

"Punjabi Hindu parents invite correspondence for their beautiful daughter, 22/5'6," senior consultant with big accounting firm," reads one ad. "Seek smart, handsome professional boy. Write with photo and biodata."

"Parents of handsome, fair, clean-shaven Sikh son, Canadian born, 32/5'10," MD (specialist) in practice; seek very attractive, fair, slim, 5'4"+, professional Sikh/Hindu match, raised/educated in Canada/U.S. (relocatable to Toronto). Bio/photo must," reads another.

Mueenuddin, 18, says she has expectations about what kind of man she would like to marry but would need more than a photo to make her decision.

"I know I want somebody who has the same profession as I do or at least understands the demands that profession has on me," says Mueenuddin, who plans on entering pediatrics. "I know I'm pretty stubborn sometimes, and I want someone who will be right back in my face. I want someone who complements my personality. By complement, I mean somebody who gets along with me and who sees things from a different perspective but can relate to me."

She says she has begun talking to her parents about their expectations.

"When I talk to them, I wonder what kind of guy they picture me having, and I think they have similar viewpoints on the kind of person that I would be happy with," Mueenuddin says.

Bhardwaj says the nature of the parents' involvement, and even of how the marriage is arranged, is contingent on trust. Often, he says, the decision to arrange a marriage or take a chance with Cupid is rooted in a fundamental question: Do we view humans as individuals or as complement entities?

"Contextualizing marriage in a larger network gives a more or less natural feeling of stability," he says. "If people feel a natural feeling of security in their life in general in a larger network, then they feel probably a greater degree of security in the marriage as well. And at the time of a little bit of infraction, then the reconciliation can be brought about by the same network."