Nirmala Sitharaman dons white checkered handloom saree for Union Budget 2024
Nirmala Sitharaman wore a white handloom saree with checks and magenta border
India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chose a white checkered saree with magenta and gold border as her chosen attire to present the Union Budget 2024 on Tuesday (Jul 23). It is a watershed moment for Sitharaman who is the first finance minister in the history of India to be presenting the seventh consecutive budget this year.
India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman's sartorial style is keenly watched every year on budget by the fashion police and she never disappoints. The finance minister's handloom saree collection is truly enviable.
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On July 23, as Sitharaman made her way to the parliament to present the Union budget 2024, Sitharaman briefly stopped for a photo-op along with her team. The Union Minister donned an off-white base handloom saree with square checks and a broad magenta border with gold embroidery.
For the interim budget, the FM had draped a resplendent and bright blue kantha silk saree with intricate threadwork embroidery all over.
Handloom saree lover
Sitharaman is known for her affinity towards handloom sarees and has always endorsed them. She has always encouraged the traditional craftsmanship that goes into weaving handloom sarees in India. Over the years, Sitharaman has worn some splendid Indian handloom sarees while presenting the Union budget. Here's a look at her sartorial choices in the past budget sessions.
In 2023, Sitharaman wore a red and black temple border saree with Kasuti threadwork all over. A staunch supporter of traditional handlooms ever since she became the finance minister, Sitharaman has always opted to promote handloom sarees when presenting the Union Budget in the past years.
In 2021, she wore a classic red and off-white silk Pochampally sari with ikat patterns around the pallu with a green border. Pochampally ikat is traditionally made in the south Indian state of Telangana, also known as the 'silk city of India'.
In 2020, Sitharaman opted for a bright yellow-gold silk saree. The yellow colour is often considered a sacred colour which stands for prosperity.
