Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary with the 2023 Theme “Atita, Wartamana, Anagata: The Past, the Present, and the Future”

The Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati is proud to announce the return of the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), Southeast Asia’s flagship literary festival, for its 20th anniversary from 18-22 October 2023. Since its inception, the festival has served as an essential forum for writers and readers to share their stories and engage in meaningful discussions. To mark this important milestone, the festival has chosen the theme Atita, Wartamana, Anagata: The Past, the Present, and the Future.

The theme is inspired by the Balinese concept of ‘Tri Semaya,’ which is the philosophical view of time as non-linear, circular and collective. It embodies the idea of Atita, Wartamana, Anagata  (Past, Present, Future) as inseparable and existing simultaneously. The concept evokes a metaphysical representation of ‘being’ that goes beyond the life of a single individual. It places an importance on balance and harmony that weaves a delicate thread that ties humanity together across time and space. It transcends individualism for our mutual sustenance from one generation to the next.

The theme will manifest in a series of compelling programs that serve as a platform for dialogue and exchange. It will cover personal and collective history, spiritual rejuvenation, and the social, environmental, economic, and political contexts of our contemporary world.