New artefacts on display at Indian Heritage Centre as part of 10th anniversary celebrations

SINGAPORE - When Mrs Salma Moiz, 84, got married decades ago, she had intricate mehendi designs on her hands and legs.

The mehendi designs – traditional body art created with a paste from the henna plant – can take hours to draw on the body using a slender needle-like applicator.

Such a tool was once used widely by Singapore’s Indian and Malay communities to create henna art during weddings and festivals. These days, henna tube applicators, which are faster, are more commonly used instead.

Mrs Moiz’s mehendi applicator was a family heirloom that she kept for decades. It will now find new life as a museum exhibit after she donated it to the Indian Heritage Centre (IHC) in Campbell Lane in Little India.

It is among 60 artefacts that several people have donated to the IHC and will be displayed at its permanent exhibition.

Thirty of the artefacts are already on display, with the rest to be exhibited by September as part of the celebrations for the centre’s 10th anniversary.

Notable donated artefacts include a rare gilt-covered bronze figurine depicting the dancing form of Ardhanarishvara, the Hindu deity better known as “The Lord Whose Half is Woman”, and an exquisitely crafted gold bangle featuring a pair of sculpted peacocks, a piece of jewellery often seen as part of an Indian bride’s outfit.

The exhibition showcases the history and heritage of Singapore’s Indian and South Asian communities.

Mrs Moiz, a former museum tour guide, said it was important to document the experiences of past generations, and ensure that these heritage pieces are placed where they are cared for and appreciated.

“If (these artefacts) go down the generations, they may not understand the value and history behind these items. But here (at the heritage centre), they are preserved forever,” she said.

Apart from the new artefacts, the IHC is also launching an Open House event on May 10 and 11, which includes a gallery tour where the exhibits are used as part of a live storytelling performance.

The event is part of the ongoing Singapore HeritageFest 2025 organised by HeritageSG, a subsidiary of the National Heritage Board.

Asked about the event, the IHC’s chairman R. Rajaram said: “Museums are seen as places of quiet contemplation, but additional effort is needed to reach out to audiences to make it interesting and engaging.”

Mr Rajaram, 62, a registrar at the National University of Singapore, said the IHC is the only museum focused on tracing the history of the Indians in Singapore. He added that he is heartened to see people of all races turning up for the centre’s events.

Beyond the Open House celebrations this weekend, visitors can look forward to monthly workshops highlighting various Indian traditions such as cooking and Rangoli art.

There will be a Deepavali Open House from Sept 27 to Oct 19.

The centre is also developing a dedicated tactile and interactive experience zone in its child-friendly spaces, which is expected to be launched in June 2025.