Sat Feb 01 12:30:00 IST 2025: ## Union Budget 2025-26: Sitharaman’s Mithila Painting Sari Sends Message to Bihar
**PATNA, INDIA** – Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2025-26 today, her eighth consecutive budget presentation. The budget, presented amidst the upcoming Bihar assembly elections later this year, was keenly anticipated by the state. Sitharaman’s choice of attire further fueled speculation. She wore a sari adorned with Mithila paintings, a gesture interpreted as a symbolic message to Bihar.
The sari, a gift from renowned Mithila painter and Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi, was received during a recent visit to the Mithila Painting Institute in Sauraha, Madhubani. JD(U) Rajya Sabha MP and national executive president Sanjay Jha confirmed the gift, noting the presence of Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary during the visit.
The Mithila painting on the sari depicted pan, makhana (fox nuts), and fish – three significant elements in Mithila culture, often featured in auspicious occasions. This choice, observers suggest, reflects an attempt to connect with the state’s electorate.
Dulari Devi, a self-taught artist from a fishing community in Madhubani, overcame considerable adversity, including poverty and a difficult marriage, to achieve recognition as a master of Mithila painting. Her story is one of resilience and artistic triumph, making the symbolic gesture of the sari even more poignant. Her work joins the legacy of other celebrated Mithila artists like Mahasundari Devi, Godavari Dutt, and Boua Devi, all recipients of Padma awards.
First Piper 