Union Budget 2025: Why FM Sitharaman's saree is grabbing eyeballs
What's the story
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived at the Parliament on Saturday to present the Union Budget 2025 wearing a saree that paid tribute to the beautiful Madhubani art. The white silk saree, which had a magenta border with golden motifs, was designed by Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi. Devi is a famous Mithila art expert from Bihar and hails from the marginalized Dalit Mallaah caste.
Saree significance
Sitharaman's saree: A gift from Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi
Notably, Devi had gifted the saree to Sitharaman during her visit to the Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani, Bihar, and requested her to wear it on Budget Day. Sitharaman's sartorial choices have always reflected her love for handwoven textiles and crafts. In the past, she donned several traditional sarees representing different regional crafts and themes. For example, in 2019, she wore a pink Mangalgiri saree with gold borders and brought the 'bahi khata' instead of a briefcase for budget documents.
Twitter Post
Devi is a 2021 Padma Shri awardee
#UnionBudget2025 | Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is wearing a saree as a tribute to Madhubani Art and the skill of Padma awardee Dulari Devi.
— ANI (@ANI) February 1, 2025
Dulari Devi is a 2021 Padma Shri awardee. When FM visited Madhubani for a credit outreach activity at Mithila Art Institute,… pic.twitter.com/Q9ur6abaNt
Symbolic attire
Sitharaman's saree choices symbolize themes and aspirations
In 2020, she chose a yellow-gold silk saree with a blue border, representing prosperity amid the COVID-19 crisis. The next year, she wore a red and off-white Pochampally silk sari from Telangana. Her 2022 pick was a rusty brown Bomkai saree from Odisha. In 2023, Sitharaman wore a red temple saree with black borders and golden designs. For the interim budget earlier this year, she donned a blue handloom saree with kantha embroidery.