Surrounded by calligraphy and painting in her childhood, later stepping onto the screen as an actress and delivering words as an announcer—
Art has always been a quiet companion in the life of Tsuyumi Miwa.
Japan, Italy, Australia, and now Singapore, where she is currently based.
Having lived among diverse cultures, she has once again picked up her brush as an artist. Through light and colour, she depicts scenes where personal memories intersect with the collective memories of Singapore, a land shaped by many cultures and ethnicities.
In this ongoing “Story of Art” series for Voyage, we turn our attention to her recent body of work, the “Singapore Cultural Series,” which honours the countless “everyday heroes” who sustain the city’s multicultural identity.
Let us trace her artistic journey and the thoughts woven into each of her works.
【Story of Art.7】Thaipusam – A Must-See Hindu Festival
“Faith is not measured by words but by devotion, sacrifice, and the unwavering belief that the divine walks alongside us.”
The Hindu festival of Thaipusam has been passed down for generations within Tamil communities.
Celebrated in Singapore, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and beyond, it takes place when the full moon of the Tamil month Thai aligns with the star Pusam.
The next celebration will fall on February 1, 2026, when prayers once again fill the streets at the start of a new year.
The festival is rooted in the story of Lord Murugan, revered as a warrior deity who defeated evil. As a symbol of this triumph, devotees undertake acts that transcend pain.
Some shoulder towering kavadis adorned with flowers and peacock feathers.
Others walk in silence with their skin, tongues, or cheeks pierced by metal spears.
These acts are not expressions of suffering but offerings to purify the spirit and give thanks.
In preparation, many observe days of fasting, meditation, and a strict vegetarian diet.
The Four-Kilometre Journey of Prayer
In Singapore, the pilgrimage begins at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple in Little India and continues for about four kilometres to Sri Thendayuthapani Temple on Tank Road.
The air is thick with the scent of incense.
The rhythm of drums echoes gently, as if matching the heartbeat.
Every step is taken slowly yet with unshakable intention.
The city gradually transforms into a shared space of prayer—held together by the quiet determination of those who walk.
The Stories Carried Within Each Devotee
Raj, who has carried a kavadi for more than a decade, reflects:
“I walk the same path every year, yet my heart is never the same.”
Each step for him is an accumulation of gratitude and introspection.
What lies beyond the pain is a calm affirmation of faith.
Everyone who walks this route holds a private story—one not visible from the outside.
The pilgrimage is not a performance but a deeply personal dialogue within oneself.
A City That Holds Both Strength and Stillness
Although Thaipusam is a festival, it is not defined by spectacle.
Even so, the day fills with colour, sound, and the presence of family and supporters who stand with the devotees.
Those who pray, those who support, and those who watch in quiet respect—all help shape the atmosphere.
The city envelops the strength of people who move beyond hardship.
What is prayer?
Perhaps it is something that cannot be measured by words, but something that resides only in the body that keeps walking forward.
This is the living cultural memory that Tsuyumi Miwa captures in her “Singapore Cultural Series.”
In the next chapter, another “everyday hero” will emerge—
another window into the rich, layered stories of Singapore’s diverse culture.
🌕 Notice
This series is updated on the day of each full moon.
The next instalment is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026.
