The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Union Budget 2025-26 preparation process, will be held on Friday (Jan 24) at 5 PM in the Central Secretariat's North Block, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
The ceremony will be led by Finance Minister Sitharaman in the presence of Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and secretaries. The officers and staff involved in the preparation and compilation of the budget would also be present.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-budget-2025-personal-tax-reformswhat-to-expect-for-individual-taxpayers-8647084">Indian Budget 2025: Personal tax reforms&ndash;What to expect for individual taxpayers?</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">What is the Halwa ceremony?</h2>
The halwa ceremony is a customary ritual observed a few days before the budget presentation in the Parliament, involving the preparation and serving of "halwa" to officials and staff involved in the budget's preparation.
The halwa ceremony also marks the beginning of the lock-in period at the finance ministry, meaning that no official involved in the budget process is allowed to leave the North Block premises.
During this period, they are cut off from external communication, including mobile phones, and are allowed to leave only after the financial document is presented in Parliament. This ensures the confidentiality of the budget documents.
Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/budget-2025-middle-class-hopes-for-relief-as-tax-reform-takes-centre-stage-8647823">Budget 2025: Middle class hopes for relief as tax reform takes centre stage</a>
<h2 dir="ltr">Significance of Halwa ceremony</h2>
The making of the sweet dish is not just a festive event but majorly celebrates the hard work that goes in before the final stage of the budget preparation. Consequently, all the staff members who have been involved in the drafting of the budget are acknowledged for their contribution to the process.
Finance Minister Sitharaman is known for her active participation in the ceremony and is often photographed stirring the halwa in a large &lsquo;kadai&rsquo; (wok) in the North Block and serving the sweet dish to everyone involved in the budget-making process.
The ceremony also symbolises the start of the lock-in period, which is done to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Union Budget.
The budget session of parliament will begin on January 31 and end on April 4, with an inter-session break from February 14. President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament on January 31.
(With inputs from agencies)

India News | Business & Economy: The Halwa ceremony, a traditional event marking the final stage of Union Budget preparations, will take place on January 24 at PM in the North Block.

The Halwa ceremony, marking the final stage of the Union Budget 2025-26 preparation process, will be held on Friday (Jan 24) at 5 PM in the Central Secretariat's North Block, New Delhi, in the presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The ceremony will be led by Finance Minister Sitharaman in the presence of Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and secretaries. The officers and staff involved in the preparation and compilation of the budget would also be present. Also read | Indian Budget 2025: Personal tax reforms–What to expect for individual taxpayers? What is the Halwa ceremony? The halwa ceremony is a customary ritual observed a few days before the budget presentation in the Parliament, involving the preparation and serving of "halwa" to officials and staff involved in the budget's preparation. The halwa ceremony also marks the beginning of the lock-in period at the finance ministry, meaning that no official involved in the budget process is allowed to leave the North Block premises. During this period, they are cut off from external communication, including mobile phones, and are allowed to leave only after the financial document is presented in Parliament. This ensures the confidentiality of the budget documents. Also read | Budget 2025: Middle class hopes for relief as tax reform takes centre stage Significance of Halwa ceremony The making of the sweet dish is not just a festive event but majorly celebrates the hard work that goes in before the final stage of the budget preparation. Consequently, all the staff members who have been involved in the drafting of the budget are acknowledged for their contribution to the process. Finance Minister Sitharaman is known for her active participation in the ceremony and is often photographed stirring the halwa in a large ‘kadai’ (wok) in the North Block and serving the sweet dish to everyone involved in the budget-making process. The ceremony also symbolises the start of the lock-in period, which is done to maintain the confidentiality and security of the Union Budget. The budget session of parliament will begin on January 31 and end on April 4, with an inter-session break from February 14. President Droupadi Murmu will address the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament on January 31. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian Budget 2025: What is halwa ceremony and its significance

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, especially the recent increase in the number of cases in India has forced the nation to drop a popular and decades-old Budget-related tradition - the "Halwa ceremony"

The customary Halwa (a sweet dish) ceremony has been dropped for the first time this year in view of the pandemic situation in the nation's capital New Delhi.&nbsp;

India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022-23 in a paperless form for the second time on February 1. However, this year, the customary Halwa&nbsp;ceremony will not take place.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-is-a-union-budget-and-why-is-it-important-to-the-government-of-india-448180">What is a union budget and why is it important to the government of India?</a>

In a statement, the government said, "To mark the final stage of the Union Budget making process, sweets were provided to the core staff due to undergo "lock-in" at their workplaces, instead of a customary Halwa&nbsp;ceremony every year in view of the prevailing pandemic situation and the need to observe health safety protocols".&nbsp;

The tradition is quite old as ahead of the Budget presentation in the Parliament,&nbsp;Halwa&nbsp;is prepared in large quantities and served to the officers and support staff.&nbsp;

The halwa is served by the finance minister as a part of the Indian tradition of having something sweet before starting an important work.&nbsp;

ALSO READ | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/union-budget-2022-a-detailed-insight-to-how-the-document-is-prepared-448246">Union Budget 2022: A detailed insight to how the document is prepared</a>

The cases increased in the recents weeks, especially after the emergence Omicron variant. It is worth mentioning that more than 400 staff of Parliament were tested COVID-19 positive in the first week of January.&nbsp;

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had reviewed the situation and directed that necessary measures be taken to contain the spread of the virus among the Secretariat officials and staff.

Meanwhile, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The VP, who is in Hyderabad, has asked those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested.

WATCH |&nbsp;India's Budget 2022 with Gautam Chikermane: India's performance in handling Covid crisis?

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The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, especially the recent increase in the number of cases in India has forced the nation to drop a popular and decades-old Budget-related tradition - the "Halwa ceremony" The customary Halwa (a sweet dish) ceremony has been dropped for the first time this year in view of the pandemic situation in the nation's capital New Delhi.

The ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, especially the recent increase in the number of cases in India has forced the nation to drop a popular and decades-old Budget-related tradition - the "Halwa ceremony" The customary Halwa (a sweet dish) ceremony has been dropped for the first time this year in view of the pandemic situation in the nation's capital New Delhi. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2022-23 in a paperless form for the second time on February 1. However, this year, the customary Halwa ceremony will not take place. ALSO READ | What is a union budget and why is it important to the government of India? In a statement, the government said, "To mark the final stage of the Union Budget making process, sweets were provided to the core staff due to undergo "lock-in" at their workplaces, instead of a customary Halwa ceremony every year in view of the prevailing pandemic situation and the need to observe health safety protocols". The tradition is quite old as ahead of the Budget presentation in the Parliament, Halwa is prepared in large quantities and served to the officers and support staff. The halwa is served by the finance minister as a part of the Indian tradition of having something sweet before starting an important work. ALSO READ | Union Budget 2022: A detailed insight to how the document is prepared The cases increased in the recents weeks, especially after the emergence Omicron variant. It is worth mentioning that more than 400 staff of Parliament were tested COVID-19 positive in the first week of January. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu had reviewed the situation and directed that necessary measures be taken to contain the spread of the virus among the Secretariat officials and staff. Meanwhile, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The VP, who is in Hyderabad, has asked those who came in contact with him to isolate themselves and get tested. WATCH | India's Budget 2022 with Gautam Chikermane: India's performance in handling Covid crisis? ×

Halwa ceremony: Coronavirus forces India to drop a customary tradition ahead of Budget 2022 presentation

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Indian Budget 2025: What is halwa ceremony and its significance

Halwa ceremony: Coronavirus forces India to drop a customary tradition ahead of Budget 2022 presentation