Mahanani Book and Art Festival 2025 Celebrates Literature and Culture with "Your Book, Your Culture" Theme

JatimVoice.com – In celebration of National Book Day, Taman Baca Mahanani hosted the Mahanani Book and Art Festival 2025, a two-day event (16–17 May 2025) bridging literature, art, and community under the theme "Your Book, Your Culture." The festival offered a diverse lineup of activities, fostering dialogue and creativity among attendees.  

Source: suarajatimpost

The festival kicked off with a thought-provoking discussion on Naomi Wolf’s The Beauty Myth, critically examined by Anif Mafatikhun Nida, sparking reflections on societal constructs surrounding women’s bodies. Later in the day, the documentary 'Ranting Kecil di Atas Riak' by Ayu Perwitosari shed light on the lives of female migrant workers, followed by a discussion led by researcher Atiyyatul Izzah.  

On the second day, the festival moved to Taman Sekartaji for "Dedongeng lan Dedolanan", a collaboration with Kampoeng Dongeng Kediri, where children engaged in traditional storytelling and games while learning cultural values. The afternoon featured the "Literacy and Civilization Discussion", with speakers Fais Yusuf, Akip Imam, and Lutfi Zanwar exploring the role of reading in shaping society.  

The closing night showcased a poetry-music performance, an exhibition by young artists, and a cultural oration by Aris Haidar titled "Literacy and Art", blending words, visuals, and sounds into a vibrant celebration.  

Akip Imam, the festival’s chairperson, emphasized that the theme "Your Book, Your Culture" highlights reading as a cultural act, not just a personal habit.  

"What we read shapes how we see the world and our place in society. Reading is a cultural process," he said. He also stressed the importance of creating inclusive spaces for all ages, ensuring the festival was both a celebration and an invitation to participate.  

With its collective spirit and commitment to literacy, the Mahanani Book and Art Festival 2025 stood not just as a book fair, but as a cultural movement—where literature is not only read but lived as a force of liberation.  

Also Read: