Nirmala Sitharaman's Budget Day Saree Pays A Tribute To Madhubani Art

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has started the Union Budget 2025 presentation. The Minister’s attire at the day of Budget presentation has been a talking point for the past seven years. This year, she draped an off-white handloom silk saree with fish-themed embroidery and a golden border, which identified as a tribute to Madhubani Art. She paired the off-white saree with a contrasting red blouse. The saree was made by Padma awardee Dulari Devi.

The saree’s border features a colourfu Madhubani motif, which represents India’s rich cultural heritage. Madhubani art is a traditional folk art form from the Mithila region of Bihar. Known for its vibrant colours, the art is characterised by intricate geometric patters and floral motifs. Delicate lines and symbolic representations of nature and mythology are the trademark of Madhubani art.

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Dulari Devi, who was awarded Padma Shri in 2021, picked art form from her employer Karpoori Devi – an accomplished painter. Devi has made at least 10,000 paintings which are displayed in over 50 exhibitions.

In 2024, the Finance Minister wore a blue saree with swirling floral motifs in white. She wore a cream-coloured blouse with it. In 2023 Budget presentation, she chose a red saree with a symmetrical black geometric pattern and golden accents. In 2022, she wore a brownish-red saree with terracotta colour palette and elephant motifs near the pallu. In 2021, she wore red and white with a mild green accent by the borders. In 2020, it was yellow.

This is the eighth consecutive Budget presentation of Sitharaman. Before her, former Prime Minister of India, Morarji Desai, highest number of Budget presentation. He gave 10 presentations, but were not consecutive. Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has presented nine Budgets.