Halwa Ceremony and Its Role in Budget 2025 Preparations
On Friday night, January 24th the Central Secretariat’s North Block will host the traditional Halwa event which marks the last phase of the Union Budget preparation process. The event will be hosted by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who will be joined by State Minister Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials from the Finance Ministry. Attending the ceremony will be officers and employees who worked on the budget’s creation and compilation.
Why is the Halwa ceremony is Important?
Since it signals the start of printing all budget documents before their formal presentation in Parliament, the Halwa ceremony is quite important. Furthermore, the ceremony marks the start of a rigorous lockdown in the finance ministry. Until the financial document is submitted in Parliament, no official involved in the budget process is permitted to leave the ministry premises once the lockdown has begun. To maintain security and privacy, the Union Budget has been printed in the North Block’s basement since 1980.
What is the Halwa Ceremony?
Every year, the Halwa ceremony is held prior to the start of the “lock-in” phase of the Union Budget preparing process. A big “kadhai” near the North Block is used to produce “halwa,” a traditional Indian sweet delicacy during the event. The meal is ceremoniously stirred and served to all participants in the budget-making process by the finance minister. This custom honours the diligence and commitment of the officers and employees of the finance ministry.
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