Budget 2024: What is the ‘halwa’ ceremony and why it's important

Finance Minister Sitharaman distributes 'halwa' to officials and staff members. (Image credit: ANI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday hosted the "halwa" ceremony at the secretariat building’s North Block basement. Every year, five days before the union budget is presented at the Parliament, the finance ministry follows a ritual in which "halwa" is prepared and served to officials and staff members of the ministry who were involved in the preparation of the budget.

The halwa ceremony is considered a way of showing appreciation for the people who worked on the budget -- a process that takes months. It also sets the stage for the “lock-in” period which precedes the budget presentation.

It is often presided over by the finance minister and over the years, Nirmala Sitharaman has taken an active part in it and has also been photographed stirring the dessert while it was being cooked.

Nirmala Sitharaman host the Halwa ceremony

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It is organised at the finance ministry headquarters in the secretariat building’s North Block basement in the national capital of New Delhi and attended by the finance minister and other high-ranking officials. The halwa ceremony celebrations are usually kicked off by the finance minister stirring a cauldron or kadhai full of halwa and then serving it to colleagues.

To maintain the secrecy of the budget, the finance ministry headquarters becomes a ‘Fort Knox’ of sorts. Officials involved in budget preparation undergo a “lock-in” at their workplaces and isolate themselves with strict rules in place to ensure no details are leaked out. During this time, phone calls are supervised, officials are not allowed to move out, and must stay under surveillance from CCTV cameras and the Intelligence Bureau.

Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union budget 2024 at the Parliament on February 1.

Read more: Budget 2024 Expectations Highlights: Need incentives, infra support for pharma sector, says Granules India chief