English
English
English
As the Union Budget 2026 approaches, attention has turned to the iconic Halwa Ceremony, a long-standing ritual symbolising the final stage of budget preparations. While the tradition has continued for decades, there was one exceptional year when it was not held.
Budget 2026 Buzz: The Story Behind the Absent Halwa Ceremony
New Delhi: The Union Budget 2026 is just around the corner. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the budget in Parliament on Sunday, February 1, 2026. As preparations enter their final phase, discussions around long-standing budget traditions have also gained momentum. One such significant ritual is the Halwa Ceremony, traditionally held shortly before the budget is presented. Interestingly, there was one year in India’s history when this decades-old tradition was not observed.
The Halwa Ceremony is a symbolic but extremely important part of the budget process. When the budget documents are fully prepared and printing is about to begin, this ritual is performed in the Finance Ministry's North Block. During this ceremony, Halwa is prepared in a large pan, and the Finance Minister herself serves it to officials and employees. This is considered an auspicious beginning of the budget process.
Budget Session 2026 Begins: PM Modi calls for accelerated reforms and solution-driven governance
Since independence, almost every government has followed this tradition. Regardless of the political situation, the ritual of distributing sweets before the budget has continued. For decades, this tradition has never been broken, further enhancing its historical significance.
In 2022, for the first time, the Halwa Ceremony was not held before the budget. This decision was made not due to any administrative negligence, but due to the serious health crisis currently plaguing the country.
In 2022, the country was grappling with the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The infection was spreading rapidly, and strict rules were in place to avoid crowds. Consequently, gathering officials and employees in North Block was deemed unsafe. Consequently, the Finance Ministry decided to cancel the Halwa Ceremony.
Although the ceremony was not held, the spirit of the tradition was not completely abandoned. The Finance Ministry sent sweets to the homes or offices of officials and employees involved in the budget. This means that the symbol of sweetness remains, but its form has changed.
Union Budget 2026–27 preparations enter final phase with Halwa ceremony at North Block
The Halwa Ceremony is not just a ritual, it also marks the beginning of the budget's confidentiality process. After this ceremony, officials and employees involved in the budget go into complete isolation. They cannot use mobile phones or the internet, so that no information related to the budget is leaked.
From the Halwa Ceremony until the budget is presented, officials remain in North Block. This tradition is considered a symbol of the budget's seriousness, confidentiality, and discipline.
