Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's choice of sari for Budget Day has become a tradition that goes beyond fashion, symbolising India's rich cultural heritage and handloom traditions. For her eighth consecutive Budget presentation, she has chosen to wear a sari honouring the Madhubani art of Bihar, paying tribute to Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi.

Sitharaman wore an off-white handloom silk sari with fish-themed embroidery in black, red and orange threads and a golden border, in line with traditional Madhubani art, paired with a red blouse. 

For the 2025 Union Budget, Sitharaman donned a sari gifted by Dulari Devi, a renowned Madhubani artist. She met the Padma Shri awardee during a credit outreach event at the Mithila Art Institute in Bihar, where Dulari Devi requested her to wear the sari on Budget Day. By choosing this sari, Sitharaman celebrated India’s artistic legacy while also subtly acknowledging the role of rural artisans and handicrafts in the economy