The Union Budget is one of the most important events for the country, outlining the government’s financial plan for the year. But did you know there’s a unique and sweet tradition that kicks off this serious process? It’s called the Halwa Ceremony, a ritual organised by the Ministry of Finance, which takes place about 9–10 days before the Union Budget is presented in Parliament.

What is the Halwa ceremony?

The Halwa Ceremony is a tradition where the Finance Ministry hosts an event to mark the start of printing the Union Budget documents. During this ceremony, a special Indian dessert, halwa (made from semolina, sugar, and ghee), is prepared in large quantities and distributed to all the officials and staff involved in the budget-making process. The dessert is cooked in a large iron kadhai (cauldron), and the Finance Minister begins the ceremony by stirring the halwa.