Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget day sarees evoke interest

Nirmala Sitharaman's unique saree choices during Union Budget speeches showcase India's textile heritage and traditional weaves.

The Union Budget 2025 tabled on Saturday (February 1, 2025) was the eighth consecutive budget presented by Nirmala Sitharaman in the Parliament. She has presented six annual and two interim budgets throughout the NDA government’s term in office, the most of any of her predecessors, including Manmohan Singh, Arun Jaitley, P. Chidambaram, Yashwant Sinha, and Morarji Desai.

Saturday’s Budget speech was Ms. Sitharaman’s second speech in the Narendra Modi-led NDA 3.0 government.

Also read: Union Budget 2025 LIVE updates

While the nation eagerly listens to her Budget speeches, all eyes are on the saree that she wears on the day of Budget presentation, showcasing India’s textile heritage and traditional weaves, fabrics. This year too, her saree garnered interest.

Clad in a cream-coloured handloom silk saree with golden border and pairing it with red blouse, she made the Budget speech in the Parliament on Saturday. In a tribute to a 2021 Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi from Bihar, she wore the saree with Madhubani motifs that bear images of fish.

Madhubani art is a century-old traditional folk art that originated in Mithila region of Bihar. The artform is characterised by geometric patterns, floral motifs and depictions of mythology and nature. The artist who hails from a Dalit fishing community made the saree of Banglori silk.

Newsagency ANI reported that Ms. Devi who took a month to make the saree gifted it to the Finance Minister during her visit to Bihar. The Madhubani artist had requested Ms. Sitharaman to wear the saree on Budget Day.