Curious Case Of Nirmala Sitharaman's Red Saree For Union Budget Session 2021

New Delhi: For her third budget presentation, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman kept her look simple, donning a crisp red-colored Saree with off-white detailing and gold border. Sitharaman is known to make a statement in subtle styles. She wears sarees and is often seen opting for the color red when making an appearance on important days.

The red color, which is considered auspicious, represents the strongest emotions including love, energy, attention, and power.  The color yellow, which is considered a mark of prosperity, is also believed to be auspicious on important occasions.

She completed her look with a gold chain and bangles and tiny earrings. While the subtle appearance of that Saree matches Sitharaman's demeanor, the bold print and the choice of color definitely symbolize the strength and confidence.

Amid the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, replacing her signature 'bahi khata', she opted to carry the documents in a tablet, which was wrapped in a red-colored cover with a national emblem emblazoned on it.

This will be the first budget in the history of India that will be paperless. Finance Minister had launched the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access of Budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the general public using the simplest form of digital convenience, according to the Finance Ministry.

While the tradition of carrying the Budget documents in a briefcase has been on since the British-era, Finance Ministers have chosen to carry the document in suitcases of different colors like red velvet, black, and tan.

Interestingly, during her maiden budget presentation in 2019, Sitharaman grabbed many eyeballs when she broke away from long-standing traditions of colonial-era, ditching the briefcase and opting for traditional bahi khata, which is a kind of a ledger wrapped in a red-colored cloth. She had chosen a warm pink-colored, gold-bordered Mangalgiri Saree.

Clad in a warm pink-colored, gold-bordered Mangalgiri Saree paired with a gold chain, tiny diamond earrings, and a bindi on her forehead, Sitharaman had made quite a statement during her budget presentation in 2019.

The first part of the budget session will continue till February 15. The second part of the session will be held from March 8 to April 8 this year. Rajya Sabha will function from 9 am to 2 pm and Lok Sabha from 4 pm to 9 pm with Zero Hour and Question Hour.