India’s Budget 2025-26 had already on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, from her budget representation on Feb 1, which was the talk about her sarees, indicating the rise of choose cultural textiles is said to be rumoured on many blog sites and news. According to social media, what is the talk about 8 sarees and 8 budgets by Nirmala Mam?
It also comes to our note, that she had chosen to wear the Cream Madhubani saree gifted to her by Padma shri awardee Dulari Devi in 2021, and asked her to carry this saree for the budget representing 2025. Indicating the budget in favour of the middle-class tax income and a madhubani saree, has really no significance, except for her excellent choice of wearing cultural Indian art and textiles during budget representation for 8 consecutive times.
8 Nirmala Sitharaman Indian Art Sarees that Inspire Old is Gold Trend
In 2019 – Mangalagiri Saree
She chose a Pink mangalagiri saree with small gold border during the 2019 budget representation of India, which was her First. A simple bold statement with a refreshing hue showing the power of femininity.
Budget in 2020 – Yellow Silk saree
She chose a yellow saree ion dot weave texture design and small blue border. It was textured and simple, which shone bright during the pandemic occurrence. The yellow saree is still a trend today and making it one of the must have saree color trends in 2025. She was the first Politician influencers to set this trend for sure as we see it today.
Budget 2021 – Pochampally Saree
As a traditional Ikkat fav from Hyderabad, Nirmala Sitharaman wore a Red and offwhite Pochampally saree during the Budget 2021. It had some motifs in ikkat on the panel border with hues of yellow, orange, cream apart from the base red.
The ikkat weave has been a part of heritage india, and is also a trend that is for all age groups and not just for women in their 60s. Note that Ikkat sarees like Patola or Pochampally are must own masterpieces of Indian Textile
For Budget 2022 – Bomkai Saree
Promoting more Indian craftsmanship of Odisha, our finance minister chose a rust maroon bomkai saree with silver gold saree and intricate patterns which didn’t overpower the look but made an impact on choosing a very heritage weave. This is the year where we saw promotion of millet and also digitization of land records.
Could it mean Bomkai saree represents this hidden message? Well lets see further her saree choices to understand.
Budget Representation 2023 – Temple Border Saree
A saree from the Southern Indian Land, representing their art with a temple border, Sitharaman chose a Red saree with Black temple border and Kasuti thread work. Again giving more tribute to Indian art and weaves. Simplicity with Traditional choices in her saree shows her likes towards heritage sarees. The easiest way to add a traditional saree from the south part would be a temple border saree.
Interim Budget 2024 – Tussar Kantha Saree
Another important indian textiles would be the Tussar silk sarees which shows rough weave with lustrous shine. The merge of Kantha embroidery and leafy motifs added a sense of life and ecoliving awareness. Talking about fashion trends, her choice of lightweight silks and pure rough fabric which is sustainable fashion. thats a trend picked up in 2024.
Kantha embroidery on the other hand, is the mixing of regional arts of separate regions as a one look in saree is some trend we see even today, making it unique.
Union Budget 2024 – Mangalagiri Off White saree
Nirmala Mam, chose once more her Mangalagiri saree, this time a off white hue with golden small checks weave and magenta border and blouse. A saree from Andhra Pradesh, which is a very durable fabric either in cotton, silk or a blend of both.
Let’s try to see what was declared in favour of the nation during the budget pass of 2024. Gold and silver custom duties were reduced, does it have anything to do with the addition of gold weave checks all over her saree? Also her choice of Mangalagiri saree, which was in regional choice of the favour in the budget for Andhra Pradesh’s individual finance growth.
As per trend look, gold was a trending saree boom of 2024 and must own saree types. Here Nirmala sitharaman just made it more sophisticated for such national events, to add more gold in her saree without making it look too loud for such an occasion.
8th Budget Saree Worn by Nirmala Sitharaman – 2025-26 Budget
Finally after a historic record of representing India;s union budget in 2025, Nirmala Mam wore a Cream madhubani Saree. Her love for Indian art and this time promoting artisans from Mithila region of Bihar.
We have always seen the trend of Kalamkari growth, just to outlive the shine of Madhubani this time, the art needed some true attention and here’s how it got it! Daily life scenes, nature and mythology motifs on a madhubani are either painted or thread weaved.
What’s the significance of Nirmala Sitharaman wearing a Off white madhubani art saree for budgeting in 2025? Is the fact of the rise of spending power for the middle class, changing the income tax slabs in favour a hint by wearing this saree? Well maybe only Nirmala mam knows.
Conclusion: We see no such hints, but only her love for true Indian art, textiles and craftsmanship, by supporting them in her choices of sarees. Yes fashion trends do affect her choices but in a very minimal aspect, major stays in choosing true textiles of India as heritage sarees. A trend for us to understand and also follow for the coming more years.