The advent of online dating apps promised a way to date efficiently, immediately, and with minimal obstruction. However, it missed one key aspect—human connection, think the founders of Prem-a-Culture, a dating service that organises retreats and events for singles in a mindful manner.

Geetika Arora, co-founder of Prem-a-Culture, says the inspiration came from noticing the increased levels of mental health issues the COVID-induced lockdown brought along. “For singles, the loneliness and feeling of being lost in a city became much bigger. We wanted to bring about more real interactions, rather than text-based chats,” says Arora. “Our vision is to encourage a culture of love.”