Halwa Ceremony before Budget: Its significance and tradition explained

tritional 'Halwa Ceremony' was held at Finance Ministry on Thursday in presence of Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, which marked beginning of preparation of documents relating to Union Budget 2023-24. Union Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Dr. Bhagwat Kishanrao Kar and Pankaj Chaudhary along with senior officials of Finance Ministry were also present during ceremony. 

customary ceremony, which also marks final st of compiling Union Budget, was held at Finance Ministry's Budget Press inside rth Block. It begins with Finance Minister stirring halwa in khai and n serving it to  colleagues of ministry in office. 

Budget became paperless in 2021 in wake of pandemic

halwa ceremony is a trition performed every year ahe of budget and it marks final st of preparing plan for upcoming financial year. After ceremony, budget documents are usually prepared. Earlier documents were being printed on paper, but in wake of COVID-19, process changed in 2021 and budget became paperless. 

This year too Union Budget 2023-24 will be presented in paperless form. It is said that after ceremony, all officials of finance ministry involved in preparing budget are supposed to move to basement of rth Block till budget is presented in parliament. This is also one of tritions to ensure leaks in budget for next financial year. 

However, in 2022 ceremony was skipped due to COVID pandemic.  budget documents will be available in Union Budget Mobile App, launched last year to allow hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and or citizens of country after it is presented by finance minister. 

Every section of society is expecting something for m in budget and all eyes are on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will present budget on coming February 1st this year. Especially, farmers and middle class are expecting a budget with favourable provisions for m.