Karangasem Literacy Festival Opens With Reading, Storytelling Push

Karangasem — — Karangasem’s 2026 Literacy Festival opened on 7 September at the Karangasem Regency Library and Archives Office, with local officials saying the event was designed to encourage reading while promoting the region’s stories and traditions. Local reports said the festival carried the theme “Prana Pustaka: Menghidupkan Cerita, Merawat Tradisi” and was opened by Regent I Gusti Putu Parwata, known as Gus Par.

The festival was presented as a five-day programme bringing together students, university communities, librarians, literacy groups and members of the public. Bali Post reported that organisers framed the event as a way to bring younger residents closer to books, local folklore and Karangasem’s cultural heritage.

According to Bali Indozone, the regency’s Library and Archives Office said the festival aimed to build stronger human resources through literacy, with goals that included raising reading interest, showcasing literary works and products from Karangasem, and deepening cooperation among government offices, schools, communities and residents.

The event also featured a discussion with Bank Indonesia on payment systems, consumer protection and rupiah management, alongside a contemporary theatre performance that linked literacy to the performing arts, according to Bali Indozone. The same report said two initiatives were introduced during the festival: Gerakan Karangasem Membaca and Gerakan Karangasem Bercerita, intended to encourage regular reading and preserve oral storytelling traditions as technology changes how people consume information.

Local coverage said the festival’s opening underscored the importance of critical thinking in the digital era, with officials urging young people to read widely while staying connected to local narratives and traditions. The reports did not provide a final attendance figure, but they said the event was organised with a target of 720 participants.

Festival data

• Dates: 7–11 September 2026
• Venue: Karangasem Regency Library and Archives Office
• Theme: “Prana Pustaka: Menghidupkan Cerita, Merawat Tradisi”
• Target participation: 720 people

The festival positioned literacy as more than reading and writing, linking it to the ability to understand information, evaluate it critically and pass on cultural memory through storytelling.

Its opening programme combined discussion, performance and cultural education, reflecting a broader effort to place literacy within Karangasem’s social and cultural life.

Sources

• BALIPOST.com
• Bali Indozone