Matrimonial Biodata: What to Include (and What to Leave Out)

A biodata is a short introduction, not a full life history. Its job is to help a family decide whether a conversation is worth starting. Aim for a page or less. Anything longer tends to repeat itself.

These details help another family decide, and are safe to share at the start:

• First name, or first name and surname initial
• Age
• City, but not street or suburb
• Religion and, if relevant, community or language
• Education and field of study
• Occupation or profession
• Marital status
• A short description of the family, in a few lines
• A few lines on interests, values and what the person is looking for

A biodata that circulates on group chats can end up anywhere. Treat it as public. Leave out anything that could be used to find, contact or impersonate you.

• Home address or suburb
• Phone numbers and personal email addresses
• Passport, licence or Medicare numbers
• Employer name, or workplace details that identify the person
• Exact income or assets, which can be discussed later
• Names and details of other family members, beyond what is needed

Khandaan profiles show only a city, a first name and a surname initial, and photos stay private until both families agree to connect. That is deliberate, and it is a good standard to follow wherever your biodata goes.

Be specific. “Enjoys cooking, hiking and family weekends” says more than “loves life”. Describe what the person is like to live with, not just what they have achieved.

Be honest about marital status, age and religion. A mistake here will surface at the first meeting and cost trust. If there is something that needs context, such as a divorce or a health condition, decide with the candidate how and when to share it, rather than leaving it out and hoping it never comes up.

Use a clear, recent photo with good light and a simple background. Avoid heavy filters, group photos where it is not obvious who is who, and photos from many years ago. A photo should look like the person who arrives at the meeting.

You do not have to share a photo publicly. Many families prefer to share photos only once both sides have shown interest.

A short, kind description of what you want helps the right families come forward, and spares everyone wasted effort. Say what matters, such as religion, location or approach to family, without listing a long set of demands. A long list of conditions often reads as rigid.

Read the biodata aloud and ask someone outside the family to read it. Check that every fact is accurate and that you are comfortable with strangers reading it. Then update it whenever something changes, such as a new job or a new city.

Ready to write one? You can create a free profile on Khandaan and fill in each part step by step.