The halwa ceremony is one such ceremony what we conduct to mark the beginning of a new venture.
The halwa ceremony is held every year ten days before the Budget is announced. It marks the beginning of the printing process for the budget. In this ceremony, halwa (a sweet considered auspicious) is prepared and served to the staff of the Finance Ministry. After the ceremony is held, all staff involved in the Budget stay in the North Block as it is turned into a fortress so that no information about the budget is leaked. They are then subjected to round-the-clock surveillance by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and cannot directly contact any close persons. Their phone calls are also monitored.
The halwa ceremony has marked the beginning of new regulations in policy since many years. This year, too, it was celebrated with fervour.