Explained: The Significance Of Halwa Ceremony
By: NDTVNewsDesk
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Days before the Union Budget is presented, a small yet significant ritual takes place at the Finance Ministry - the Halwa Ceremony.
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The halwa ceremony is held every year, roughly a week prior to the official Budget presentation.
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During the ceremony, a huge batch of halwa is made in a large iron pot, called a kadhai.
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As per tradition, the Finance Minister stirs the kadhai first, and then the sweet dish is served to the staff who worked on the Budget.
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The purpose of the ceremony is to mark the beginning of the final stage of the Budget process, especially the process of printing the Budget.
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The halwa ceremony is not just a ritual but it also marks the start of a "lock-in" for the Budget.
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This means that the Budget is kept completely secret for the next few days so that no details get leaked to the public before it is officially presented in Parliament.
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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on Sunday, February 1.
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