Budget 2025: What Is Halwa Ceremony? Why Is It Important?

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the 2025 Union Budget in Parliament on Saturday, Feb. 1. This will mark her eighth Budget presentation, the most by any Indian finance minister. There are a few traditions that precede the Budget presentation.

In India, it is traditionally considered auspicious to have something sweet before embarking on an important journey. This custom is also observed by the Finance Ministry, with the Union Budget being one of the most significant events of the year.

As part of the lead-up to the Budget, the Ministry of Finance hosts the Halwa Ceremony, a customary tradition held annually. This event typically takes place a few days before the finance minister's speech.

The Halwa Ceremony is a pre-budget tradition in which sweets are prepared in the Finance Ministry’s kitchen. A large batch of halwa is cooked in a kadhai (wok) and served to the ministry staff who have been involved with the preparation of the Budget. The Finance Minister officiates the event by stirring the halwa and serving it to the staff.

Beyond its auspicious significance, the Halwa Ceremony plays a crucial role in the Budget preparation process. Once the ceremony is completed, officials involved in drafting the Budget documents enter a period of 'lock-in'. During this time, they are quarantined within the North Block of the Finance Ministry, with all external communication prohibited. Their mobile phones are confiscated to ensure confidentiality and security.

This is done to make sure that no details related to the Budget are leaked before the Finance Minister’s speech in Parliament.

Once the 'lock-in' period concludes, the Budget documents are sent to the basement of the North Block for printing, but only after receiving approval from the Prime Minister. To maintain the highest level of secrecy, the Intelligence Bureau conducts surprise inspections of the basement during the printing process.

The second full Budget of the Narendra Modi 3.0 government is set to be presented on Feb. 1 at the Parliament. The government is expected to prioritise addressing the slowing economy in India and announce a range of incentives aimed at stimulating growth.