Ten mistakes, and how to fix them
- 1
Spilling onto a second page
Families read biodata on phones and print them on one sheet. Cut long paragraphs, drop the full address and keep everything on one A4 page.
- 2
A blurry, old or group photo
Use one recent photo, face clearly visible, in natural light, with a plain background. No sunglasses, heavy filters or cropped group pictures.
- 3
Wrong or rough birth time
Families who match kundli rely on it. Check it against the birth certificate or kundli, and mark it as approximate if you are unsure.
- 4
Rashi from a newspaper horoscope
The rashi in a biodata is the moon sign from the kundli, not the sun sign in magazines. See gotra, rashi and nakshatra explained.
- 5
Writing about complexion and looks
“Fair”, “slim” and “beautiful” put the focus in the wrong place, and many families now find it off-putting. The photo is enough; describe nature and interests instead.
- 6
An “About me” full of adjectives
“Caring, understanding, fun-loving, ambitious” tells families nothing. Write three sentences with real details. Our “About me” guide shows how.
- 7
A long list of demands
Partner expectations should be two or three kind lines. A list of conditions on height, complexion or salary reads as a demand, and any mention of dowry or gifts is never acceptable.
- 8
Exaggerating job or income
It comes out in the first conversation. Write the real designation and figure, or leave the income out.
- 9
Printing the full home address and every phone number
Biodata get forwarded widely. One parent’s name and mobile number is enough for the first copy; share the address once families have spoken.
- 10
Sharing it before the person has seen it
Parents often prepare the biodata, which is fine, but let the person it is for read it, correct it and agree before it goes out.
A quick check before you send
- Does it fit on one page, and is it easy to read on a phone?
- Is the photo recent and clear?
- Are names, birth time, rashi and nakshatra correct?
- Is there only one phone number, and no full address?
- Has the person it is for read it and agreed?