New Delhi, Feb. 1 -- On the day she presented her eighth consecutive Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chose to wear an off-white handloom silk saree, gifted to her by Padma Shri awardee Dulari Devi, a Bihar-based artist.

Honouring the rich legacy of Madhubani art and its artisans, the saree featured intricate fish-themed embroidery along with a golden border.

Dulari Devi, who received the Padma Shri in 2021 for her contributions to Madhubani art, had met FM Sitharaman during a credit outreach programme at the Mithila Art Institute in Madhubani, Bihar.

During their conversation, Devi emphasised the cultural and artistic significance of Madhubani paintings and, in a heartfelt gesture, presented the saree to the Finance M...