Nirmala Sitharaman takes part in customary halwa ceremony; marks final stage of Budget preparation
The Hindu
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman participated in a traditional 'halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for the preparation of the Union Budget 2026-27, to be unveiled on February 1 in the Lok Sabha.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) participated in a traditional 'halwa' ceremony, marking the final stage for the preparation of the Union Budget 2026-27, to be unveiled on February 1 in the Lok Sabha.
The ceremony took place at the North Block on Raisina Hill, the old address of the Finance Ministry, as the new premises at the Kartyava Bhawan-I do not have a printing press.
The Finance Minister and most of her team were shifted from the iconic and majestic North Block to the modern central secretariat office housed in Kartavya Bhawan in September 2025.
The ceremony is a customary ritual in which traditional dessert ‘halwa’ is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the Finance Ministry who are involved in the preparation of the Budget.
The ‘Halwa ceremony’ precedes the 'lock-in' of the officials involved in preparation of the Union Budget, an official statement said.
Maintaining the tradition, it was organised in the basement of North Block, which was attended by the Finance Minister and other high-ranking officials.
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