Meet Woman Who Gifted Madhubani Saree To FM Sitharaman For Budget 2025; Husband Abandoned At 16, Worked As Housemaid, Now Has...

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to presented her eighth consecutive budget on February 1, 2025. Beyond the numbers and policies, her choice of attire has become a subject of interest. Every year, she wears a special saree that showcases India’s rich handloom heritage. This year, she has chosen a saree with a unique story linked to Bihar. 

For Budget 2025, Sitharaman donned an off-white Madhubani saree. This saree was gifted to her by Dulari Devi, a Padma Shri awardee and an accomplished Madhubani artist. Devi belongs to a fisherman community in Bihar. Her journey to success has been full of struggles. 

Dulari Devi faced several hardships in her early life. She was abandoned by her husband at just 16 years old. She also suffered the loss of her child and had to work as a housemaid for 16 years, according to a report by ANI. She was a victim of child marriage and endured severe social challenges. 

Despite her struggles, Devi found a new path through Madhubani art. She learned the skill from her employer, Karpoori Devi, an accomplished painter. Over time, Dulari Devi mastered the art form and gained recognition. Today, her paintings have been displayed in over 50 exhibitions. She has created nearly 10,000 paintings and has trained over 1,000 students through organizations like the Mithila Art Institute and Seva Mithila Sansthan. 

Devi's artwork is not just about aesthetics; it carries strong social messages. She uses her paintings to spread awareness about issues like AIDS, female foeticide, and child marriage. Her dedication to preserving and promoting Madhubani art has earned her national recognition. 

Sitharaman’s Madhubani saree for Budget 2025 is adorned with fish motifs, symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. Through her choice of attire, she continues to support India’s traditional textiles and craftsmanship. Her sarees not only reflect cultural pride but also symbolize strength and authority. 

Over the years, Sitharaman’s sarees have held significance. In 2019, she wore a bright pink Mangalgiri saree with gold borders and replaced the traditional budget briefcase with the ‘bahi khata.’ In 2020, she chose a yellow-gold silk saree, representing prosperity. Her 2021 budget attire featured a red and off-white Pochampally silk saree, showcasing Telangana’s famous ikat patterns. Each saree has carried a deeper meaning, making her budget presentations a blend of policy and tradition. 

Madhubani painting is an ancient art form from the Mithila region of Bihar. Artists use natural dyes and a variety of tools such as fingers, twigs, nib-pens, and brushes to create intricate designs. The art form is known for its geometric patterns and storytelling elements, often depicting themes like weddings, festivals, and mythology. 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, accompanied by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and other officials, arrived at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi to present the Union Budget 2025-26 on Saturday, February 1, 2025.