Finance Minister Sitharaman Stuns in Handloom Silk Saree on Budget Day

New Delhi, Feb 1 (NationPress) On the day she is set to unveil her eighth consecutive Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman opted for an off-white handloom silk saree, a generous gift from Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi, an esteemed artist from Bihar.

This saree pays tribute to the rich heritage of Madhubani art and its talented artisans, showcasing exquisite fish-themed embroidery complemented by a golden border.

Dulari Devi, who was honored with the Padma Shri in 2021 for her dedication to Madhubani art, first met FM Sitharaman during a credit outreach initiative at the Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani, Bihar.

In their discussion, Devi highlighted the cultural and artistic importance of Madhubani paintings and presented the saree to the Finance Minister with a heartfelt request for her to wear it on Budget Day.

Madhubani art, a traditional folk art form originating from Bihar's Mithila region, is celebrated for its vibrant colors and detailed symbolic representations.

Having learned the craft from her mentor, Karpoori Devi, Dulari has faced significant challenges and now utilizes her artwork to raise awareness about pressing social issues such as child marriage, AIDS, and female foeticide.

With over 10,000 paintings displayed in more than 50 exhibitions, she remains dedicated to preserving and promoting this traditional art form.

FM Sitharaman's attire on Budget Day has consistently attracted attention, with each saree conveying a unique narrative.

Before delivering the Union Budget at 11 am on Saturday, she performed the customary ritual of posing outside her North Block office with a traditional 'bahi-khata', surrounded by her team, before proceeding to meet the President.

In 2019, during her inaugural Budget presentation, Sitharaman selected a pink Mangalgiri saree with a gold border, substituting the traditional leather briefcase for a red cloth-wrapped 'bahi-khata' to carry the Budget documents.

The subsequent year, she donned a bright yellow-gold silk saree. In 2021, she presented the Budget in a red and off-white silk Pochampally saree featuring ikat patterns and a green border, a weave that hails from Telangana. In 2022, she showcased a rust brown Bomkai saree with off-white border details, another handloom tradition from Odisha.

For the 2023 Budget, she selected a striking red and black saree adorned with a temple border and intricate Kasuti threadwork, while the previous year, she favored a blue tussar silk saree embellished with kantha embroidery, renowned for its rich texture and golden sheen.

As she approaches her eighth consecutive Budget, Sitharaman is on the verge of establishing a record in Indian parliamentary history. The late Morarji Desai holds the record for the most Budgets presented (10), although they were not consecutive. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has presented nine Budgets.

The Finance Minister's upcoming speech is expected to detail vital fiscal policies, plans for revenue and expenditure, taxation reforms, and other significant announcements that will shape India's economic future.