This painting captures the annual Thaipusam ritual pilgrimage as it unfolds in urban Singaporean. The scene juxtaposes ancient devotion with urban cities, creating a narrative of tradition navigating contemporary life. Male devotees are depicted with their bodies pierced by meter-long needles, a testament to their spiritual endurance and commitment. Alongside them, women carry milk pots gracefully atop their heads, embodying devotion and resilience.
Male Indian devotees are depicted with their bodies adorned by meter-long needles, a testament to their spiritual endurance and physical strength. In a society where the Indian minority is often viewed as socially lower within the Chinese-majority context of Singapore, this ritual becomes an assertion of identity and resilience. The piercing and endurance of pain serve not only as acts of devotion but also as a striking display of strength—a silent yet powerful declaration: “Look what I do to myself; imagine what I can do for you.”