What Does Nirmala Sitharaman's 2024 'Oath-Taking' Saree Symbolize?

Nirmala Sitharaman, one of the key BJP leaders to have maintained her position as a Union Minister for the third-consecutive time, chose to wear an off-white saree with golden imprints and border in a display of heritage finesse, while she took oath on Sunday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Union Minister, who likes to stay true to the identity of a culturally-rooted woman, paired her subtle cotton cream handloom saree with a blouse displaying kalamkari print. This style of print is considerably popular as a form of block printed- cotton textile created by the locals residing in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh. 

Sitharaman's choice of attire at a day, considered to be a celebration of democracy in India, marks a departure from the past and emphasizes on fresh beginnings, while reminding the people to choose ‘peace over chaos’. The Union Minister is known to have always held a traditional stance in her official outings unlike many in power positions that are known to opt for a more western-inspired look.

The Central Minister is also known as the first woman to have been appointed as the full-time Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs after Indira Gandhi, who had held finance as an added portfolio for a short-term period as the Prime Minister of India.