New Delhi [India], Jan 19 : The process of printing documents for the 2017-18 Budget will begin today with the ritual 'halwa ceremony' in Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's presence.

Jaitley will participate in the ritual ceremony to be held at 4 pm along with other Finance Ministry officials at the North Block here.

More than 100 Finance Ministry officials will stay in Budget Printing Press till Jaitley presents his budget speech.

As part of the ritual, which has continued for long, 'halwa' is prepared in a big 'kadhai' and served to the entire staff in the ministry.

This year's Budget, which will be the third full-fledged Budget of the present NDA government, is scheduled to be unveiled in Parliament on February 1.

The 'lock-in' of the documents is followed by the 'halwa ceremony', which is observed to maintain the secrecy of the budget preparation process. (ANI)