BUDGET 2025: FM Nirmala Sitharaman’s saree turn heads

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
NEW DELHI, FEBRUARY 01 (STC): Presentation of Union Budget 2025 is a big event. Everyone, be it rich, poor or middle class, are hopeful to see the budget meeting their aspirations. Even as the facts and figures in the budget capture media headlines, it’s the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s attire which has captured the attention of media. The Finance Minister is known for making statements through her sarees on Budget Day, with each one reflecting India‘s rich textile heritage and traditional craftsmanship.
This year, the media has captured her stunning off-white saree adorned with intricate golden work, paired with a red blouse and shawl. She carried her signature ‘bahi-khata,’ a tablet wrapped in red cloth and embossed with a golden national emblem, as she presented the Union Budget, reported national media.
According to the reports, the saree worn by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was a gift from Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi, a self-taught Madhubani artist from Bihar. She is from a fisherman community. Sitharaman met Dulari Devi during a visit to the Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani for a credit outreach event, where the artist presented the saree and requested that she wear it on Budget Day.
According to ANI, Dulari Devi’s paintings have been a powerful medium for spreading awareness about important social issues such as child marriage, AIDS, and female foeticide. Over the years, she has created more than 10,000 works of art, showcasing them in over 50 exhibitions across India. Additionally, Dulari Devi has dedicated herself to preserving the traditional art form by training over 1,000 students through organizations like the Mithila Art Institute and Seva Mithila Sansthan, ensuring that Madhubani art continues to thrive for generations to come.
Meanwhile, the Budget is expected to provide insight into the Modi government’s efforts to boost the economy, which is projected to slow down to 6.4% in the current financial year. It will also outline a roadmap for transforming India into a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) by 2047. (STC)