27% Hindustani. Paramaribo Gets a Dating Show in Dutch and Sarnami.

Suriname has one of the highest proportions of people of Indian descent in the Americas. Hindustani Surinamese make up roughly 27 percent of the population, descendants of indentured workers from Bihar and Eastern UP who arrived in the late 1800s. Paramaribo's Hindustani community is visible everywhere: temples, Hindi schools, roti shops, and cultural organizations that keep the traditions alive while blending them with Surinamese culture.

Garam Masala Dating is the #1 live South Asian dating show and singles mixer from NYC. Real blind dates on stage, two hosts, a live audience, and a mixer. The Hindustani Surinamese identity is a specific, beautiful thing and a show in Paramaribo would honour that while giving singles something they've never had before.

The connection between Suriname and the Netherlands is strong. Many Hindustani Surinamese have family in The Hague, Amsterdam, and Rotterdam. A show in Paramaribo connects to that transatlantic community. The cultural references span continents.

Anton de Kom University and the professional community in Paramaribo create an educated, engaged audience. The community is close knit in the way that only small country communities can be. A dating show here isn't just entertainment. It's a communal experience that the whole Hindustani community would have an opinion about. That's what makes it work.

Waitlist is open. Paramaribo is part of our Caribbean plans. Get on the list or apply to be a contestant.