President Murmu Offers ‘Dahi-Cheeni’ to Sitharaman Before Budget

February 1, 2026

Ahead of Union Budget 2026, President Droupadi Murmu offered the customary dahi-cheeni (curd and sugar) to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. This age-old Indian tradition is considered an auspicious gesture symbolizing good luck and success before undertaking important responsibilities.

The finance minister arrived at the presidential residence with her budget team, including Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance. During the meeting, she also discussed key contours of the upcoming budget with the President.

Significance of the ‘Dahi-Cheeni’ Ritual

The dahi-cheeni practice involves offering curd mixed with sugar — a combination traditionally believed to bring positive energy, clarity of mind, and smooth outcomes. In Indian culture, it’s often shared before examinations, interviews, and major events to invoke good luck.

Although not an official constitutional procedure, the gesture has become a symbolic pre-budget tradition in recent years, underlining cultural practices in statecraft.

Context: Sitharaman’s Ninth Consecutive Budget

Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha at 11 am today, marking her record ninth consecutive budget presentation. This achievement places her alongside some of India’s longest-serving finance ministers in history.

The budget will outline the government’s fiscal policy priorities, taxation changes, expenditure plans, and economic forecasts for the upcoming financial year. It follows the recent Economic Survey tabled in Parliament that assessed the state of the economy ahead of the budget.