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The ancient norms under which same-village residents are treated like family are being rocked by an emerging trend towards intra-village marriages, in particular, love marriages. The recent cases in the villages of Amritsar such as Dhariwal, Kaler, and Adliwal have raised a rapping debate among the couples with the family opposition and the panchayat opposition.

Panchayats have reacted by passing resolutions that discourage or prohibit such alliances on grounds of dangers of family feuds, violence, and disruptive nature to social harmony. The offended couples and families tend to be socially boycotted, also compelling many to leave the village.

Village elders claim that traditions protect the sanctity of families, yet the young generations who get instilled with learning, moving out, and social networking technologies are becoming more and more convinced of their right to make personal choices. Sociologists see this as a clash between tradition and modernity in Punjab's countryside.

Although there are couples who silently move to urban places, the trend brings up a gradual yet crucial alteration of the social fabric of the rural areas and raises the question of the individual(s)' rights versus the traditions of the people living in the rural setting.