Sitharaman’s seven sarees across seven budgets: What’s the symbolism in six yards?

PTC News Desk: Colours: Magenta bordered Red, Blue, Yellow, Brown, and Off-White. The tale of Indian culture and legacy is depicted in the tones of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s sarees as she delivers the Union Budget. Every saree tells a unique cultural story from a particular region of India. She occasionally drops a hint about the strategies that are put up.

Sitharaman presented the entire budget for 2024–25 on Tuesday while donning an off-white Mangalgiri saree from Andhra Pradesh with a pink border. The Budget provided Andhra Pradesh with extra financial help to match the Mangalagiri saree.

For the benefit of Andhra Pradesh’s agricultural demands, Sitharaman reaffirmed the Center’s commitment to finance and finishing the long-delayed Pollavaram irrigation project. She presented the interim budget for 2024 while dressed in a blue saree earlier in February 2024. It included a West Bengali-famous kantha stitch.

The exquisite detailing on the stunning saree is proof of the elegance of Indian textiles in general and sarees in particular. One of the earliest examples of Bengali needlework is the leaf on the saree.

Many people think that the Bengali blue saree was also an attempt to draw attention to government initiatives meant to increase aquaculture productivity and the country’s fisheries industry and economy. The financial year 2024–25 will see the Department of Fisheries get its highest-ever annual grant of Rs 2,584.50 crore. Compared to the previous fiscal year, it increased by 15 per cent.

This tussar saree with kantha embroidery is made by sewing together tattered bits of fabric. Sitharaman’s wearing of the saree will bring much-needed attention to the local handloom industry. The word of kantha will spread, and its popularity will grow.

She had chosen a red temple border saree for herself in 2023. The saree was an Ilkal silk saree with Kasuti work from the Karnataka Dharwad district. This saree was woven by hand.

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Sitharaman represents Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha

The Finance Minister’s saree included lotuses, peacocks, and chariots.

Sitharaman paid homage to the Odisha handlooms from Ganjam district in 2022 by delivering the budget while donning a brown Bomkai saree. She chose an off-white Pochampally saree from Pochampally village near Hyderabad in 2021, which is renowned for its distinctive patterns.

She presented the budget in 2020 while sporting a shirt in the same hue, all done in yellow silk sarees. Her saree was interpreted as a representation of India’s rich culture and wealth, as yellow is thought to represent the country’s prosperity.

Sitharaman replaced the traditional crimson ‘bahi khata,’ a symbol of riches, with a budget bag in 2019. It had a national insignia on top and golden threads throughout. She was spotted donning a pink, golden-bordered mangalgiri saree.

Every one of these exquisite sarees that Sitharaman chooses symbolises a state as well as a distinctive handloom and embroidery from a local area. More importantly, every saree gains attention after Sitharaman dons it to deliver the budget.

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NIRMALA SITHARAMAN’S MANGALGIRI SAREE OF BUDGET 2024

It is reported that Sitharaman wore a Mangalgiri saree for the event, which is an off-white colour with a magenta border. The Mangalagiri saree, which originated in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, is a distinctive type of handloom cloth distinguished by its border zari and lack of woven motifs on the body.

These sarees, which are registered under the Geographical Indications (GI) Act, 1999, are made on traditional pitlooms and go through a labor-intensive purifying, dying, and weaving procedure. Because of their cultural significance and use in devotion, these sarees are highly prized; the GI brand guarantees their authenticity and excellence.

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WHAT BUDGET 2024 HAS FOR ANDHRA PRADESH

In her 2024 Budget, Sitharaman committed the government to funding and completing the long-delayed Pollavaram irrigation project, as well as providing Andhra Pradesh with particular financial help. For the agricultural demands of Andhra Pradesh, the Pollavaram project is essential.

Nirmala Sitharaman announced during her seventh straight budget presentation that Andhra Pradesh would get Rs 15,000 crore to develop its capital. This announcement fulfils a major request made by the state administration, which at the pre-budget meeting asked for a grant of Rs 15,000 crore for the development and building of Amaravati, Andhra Pradesh’s exclusive capital.

During the Budget presentation, Sitharaman stated that the Center will support Andhra Pradesh through multilateral development agencies, acknowledging its need for finance. This is how Nirmala Sitharaman’s seven sarees in seven budgets hint at the projects and states that are prioritised while also showcasing India’s diversity.

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