Nirmala Sitharaman Budget Saree Look: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman always makes headlines with her iconic sarees which she dons as she presents the government’s fiscal policies for the year ahead in the Budget.
Her red, blue, yellow, brown and off-white six yards represent the varied Indian culture and heritage and tell a different tale each time. They have remained an important component of Budget Day, along with the tax exemptions, fiscal policies and programmes announced on that day.
FM Sitharaman Dons White Saree With Madhubani Motifs
This year, the finance minister wore a white saree with a colourful Madhubani motif and intricate golden border and paired it with a red blouse and a shawl, showcasing her love for handloom in her sartorial choices.
The finance minister chose minimalist accessories, which included earrings, a chain and gold bangles, that perfectly complemented her saree.
Madhubani is a traditional folk art form which has its roots in the Mithila region of Bihar. Intricate floral motifs and geometric patterns are some of the characteristics of Madhubani art and it depicts nature and mythology with the use of vibrant colours and delicate lines.
The saree worn by FM Sitharaman is a tribute to Madhubani art form and Padma awardee Dulari Devi who has honed this skill.
Dulari Devi was honoured with a Padma Shri in 2021. The finance minister had visited Mithila Art Institute for credit outreach activity where she had met Dulari Devi. The two had discussed Madhubani art and Devi had gifted a saree to the finance minister for the budget day.
The finance minister’s choice has sparked curiosity if this is just one of her many sartorial choices or if it is signalling something special for Bihar.
Let’s take a look back at the iconic sarees worn by the finance minister on Budget days.
FM Sitharaman’s Iconic Budget Sarees Through Years
Through the years, FM Sitharaman has always worn handwoven sarees on Budget Day which has underscored her love for the garment and also brought India’s rich handloom and textile heritage to the national platform.
In her first budget session in 2019, FM Sitharaman replaced the briefcase with a traditional bahi khata. While carrying the red bahi khata, the finance minister wore a pink Mangalgiri silk saree which had gold borders.
Nirmala Sitharaman was wearing a yellow silk saree which had a green-lined border for Budget 2020. The saree was significant as in the Hindu culture, the colour yellow is believed to be auspicious and is a symbol of hope and prosperity.
While presenting the budget for 2021, Sitharaman sported a Pochampally silk saree which had red and white hues. Through the saree, she showed her support for local artisans and Indian weaving communities.
The finance minister wore a Bomkai saree in 2022 which promoted regional craftsmanship and art. The brown-coloured saree had maroon and gold borders and it paid a homage to the handloom legacy of Odisha.
Bomkai sarees are made in Bomkai village of Odisha.
While presenting the budget in 2023, FM Sitharaman sported a vibrant red silk saree which had black temple motif borders showcasing the beauty of the Kasuti embroidery that belongs to the Dharwad region of Karnataka.
In 2024, FM Sitharaman wore a blue tussar silk saree with kantha embroidery, which is a craft popular in West Bengal.
The various handloom sarees worn by the finance minister in these years show her willingness and dedication to support rich and traditional weaving techniques.
