Over 600 HIV+ people come together in Surat to find a match; 13 attend virtually from abroad

The participants included doctors, engineers, builders, businessmen and IT professionals

Surat HIV+ gatherings, HIV+ awareness, HIV infected match, Surat, HIV+ matchmaking event, Gujarat State Network of People, INDIAN EXPRESS NEWS

Giving more details, GSNP president Daxa Patel said, “We started this matchmaking event in 2003. Till date, over 423 people have got married. (Representative Image)

Over 600 HIV infected people looking for a match from different walks of life came together in Surat on Monday for the 13th edition of matchmaking event organised by the Gujarat State Network of People (GSNP). Of these, 13 attended the event virtually from other countries, including Canada, Australia, and Dubai in a first. This year also saw a new record with the highest number of participants, said the organisers.

Giving more details, GSNP president Daxa Patel said, “We started this matchmaking event in 2003. Till date, over 423 people have got married. This year, we found the highest number of participants and for the first time, we have got overseas participants. At today’s event, eight marriages were fixed while 50 candidates expressed interest in tying the knot. We are also taking extra care to keep the identity of the participants hidden.”

The candidates were from different walks of life, she added. There were doctors, engineers, builders, businessmen, IT professionals among others.

“There were candidates who were earning Rs 1 crore per annum, and an army jawan. Participants from Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, MP, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi attended the event,” the GSNP president said.

Patel further added, “Once the men or women like the candidates, we organise their meetings at spot and we take their details. Now these candidates will talk to their family members. We will coordinate with their families, and after both parties agree, we will later allow both of them to meet personally and get final recognition of getting married.”

Kamal Saiyed

Kamal Saiyed is a senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, providing extensive, on-the-ground coverage from Surat and the broader South Gujarat region and the Union territories of Daman, Diu & Dadra Nagar Haveli. With a reporting career at the publication spanning back to 2007, he has established himself as a high-authority voice on the industrial, social, and political pulse of one of India’s fastest-growing urban hubs. Expertise Industrial & Economic Beat: Based in the "Diamond City," Saiyed offers expert reporting on the diamond and textile industries. His work tracks global market shifts (such as De Beers production changes), local trade policies, and the socio-economic challenges facing the millions of workers in Surat’s manufacturing hubs. Civic & Infrastructure Coverage: He consistently reports on urban development and public safety in Surat, including: Traffic & Urban Planning: Monitoring the city's 13-fold increase in traffic violations and the implementation of new municipal drives. Public Safety: Investigative reporting on infrastructure failures, fire safety NOC compliance in schools and commercial buildings, and Metro rail progress. Political Reporting: Tracking the shifting dynamics between the BJP, Congress, and AAP in South Gujarat and the neighboring Union Territories (Daman, Diu, and Dadra & Nagar Haveli). Crime beat: Armed with a good source network Saiyed has been able to bring out the human side of crime stories in his region ... Read More

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