Recently, a viral social media post exposed the sheer agony of a family at the Sikh Bagh marriage hall in Srinagar, who were left high and dry when the electricity supply was cut off mid-wedding due to the department’s failure to pay its own dues. ( https://www.facebook.com/bhat96). While the public was rightfully up in arms against that specific instance of mismanagement, it is crucial to recognize that this is not an isolated incident. Across public departments in the region, a toxic culture of hosting weddings at government-run marriage halls has emerged; one defined by extortion, fleecing, overcharging, and providing absolutely no basic facilities in return.

While the Sikh Bagh incident is a perfect case of administrative failure, the public needs to be urgently forewarned about an even more egregious culprit: the Tourism Department-run facility, Nigeen Club. To summarise plainly, hosting an event here is an absolute nightmare.

If you are planning the most important milestone of your life, or that of your children or siblings, and find yourself mesmerised by the celestial, postcard-perfect locale of the Nigeen Club, be warned: look past the view, or be prepared for a harrowing, humiliating, and deeply stressful ordeal. Behind the breathtaking natural backdrop of Nigeen lake lies a masterclass in administrative apathy, crumbling infrastructure, predatory operational tactics, and a shocking disregard for basic human hygiene and safety. Do not let the geography blind you to the severe operational rot inside........

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