Budget 2025: Halwa Ceremony Set For Today; Know The Tradition Behind This Ritual

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget in Parliament on February 1, 2025, marking her eighth consecutive budget presentation, including one interim budget. This will also be the second budget under the Modi government’s third term. While the Union Budget always garners significant attention, the Halwa Ceremony, a unique pre-budget tradition, also captivates a lot of curiosity. Below, we provide more details about this event.

Budget 2025: What Is Halwa Ceremony?

The Halwa Ceremony is a time-honoured tradition held annually before the ‘lock-in’ phase of budget preparation begins. During this event, a large 'kadhai' is used to prepare the Indian sweet dish at North Block, as per Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The Finance Minister typically takes part in the ceremony by stirring the halwa and serving it to all those involved in the budget-making process. This ritual serves as a way to recognise the hard work of the finance ministry officials. The Halwa Ceremony also marks the commencement of printing the budget documents in preparation for the official presentation in Parliament.

Don't Miss:Union Budget 2025: Date, Time, And Other Key Details

Why Is The Halwa Ceremony Important?

The Halwa Ceremony is more than just a cultural tradition; it marks the beginning of an essential phase in the Budget preparation process. While it celebrates the hard work leading up to the final stage, it also signifies the start of the lock-in period, a critical time to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Union Budget.

As per Jagran Josh, following the ceremony, all officials involved in drafting the Budget enter a restricted period, where they are isolated within the Finance Ministry, particularly in the North Block.

During this lock-in period, strict measures are taken to prevent any leaks of Budget details before they are presented in Parliament. The most important of these measures is the confiscation of mobile phones and communication devices from the officials. No contact with the outside world is allowed, and the team is completely cut off from external access. This rigorous process helps ensure the secrecy of the Budget and prevents unauthorised information from being released.

The lock-in continues until the Budget documents are approved by the Prime Minister and are ready for printing. The printing process itself takes place in a highly secure area in the basement of the North Block, where only the core team has access to the final drafts before the official announcement in Parliament.

Don't Miss:The 50:30:20 Rule- Finance Expert Explains How It Can Simplify Budgeting- Money Matters

The origins of the Halwa Ceremony are not well-documented, but its significance grew after a major Budget leak in 1950 when confidential details were exposed before the official announcement. In the wake of this incident, the government took stronger measures to protect the secrecy of the Budget.

To prevent future leaks, the printing press for the Budget was moved from Rashtrapati Bhavan to Minto Road, and eventually, in 1980, it was relocated to the basement of the North Block. Today, this basement houses a highly secured printing area, accessible only to the core team working on the Budget, ensuring that sensitive information remains strictly confidential until the official presentation.

Keep reading Herzindagi for more such stories.

Credits: Twitter