Traditional sarees FM Sitharaman chose to wear for Union Budget over the years

By Priyanka Deshpande & Nandini Das

CNBC-TV18.com

Published July 23, 2024

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman often chooses silk or cotton fabrics as she favours handloom sarees for their colour, weaving, and texture. Let’s take a sneak peek at her saree choices over the year:

JULY 23, 2024

FM Sitharaman for her seventh budget speech chose a white silk saree with magenta border.  She also carried a digital tablet wrapped in a traditional 'bahi-khata' style pouch.

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

For the 2024 interim budget, the FM wore a stunning blue and cream tussar saree. The beautiful cream colored kantha embroidery over the blue body demonstrated Sitharaman’s persistent support for Indian handwoven textiles.

2023

Nirmala opted for a handwoven red ilkal saree adorned with Navalagunda embroidery. A beautiful tapestry of Indian craftship was highlighted with its black borders and specific golden work.

2022

FM chose a rust and maroon handloom Bomkai weave saree with silver thread work in the border, showcasing traditional weaves.

2021

Nirmala opted for a red and off-white silk Pochampally sareee with ikat motifs across the pallu and a green border, combining tradition with modernity.

2020

Sitharaman's chose a bright yellow-gold silk saree with a blue border, representing wealth and abundance. Her simple design symbolised the 'Aspirational India' theme of that year's budget.

2019

In her first budget, Sitharaman made a bold statement in a bright pink Mangalgiri silk saree with a gold border in her own fashion tradition.