Na’at Fest: Tulum’s First Festival of Letters and Knowledge

TULUM, Mexico – The inaugural Festival of Letters and Knowledge in Tulum promises to be an extraordinary cultural event, set to take place from October 1st to 3rd. The festival, known as Na’at Fest, will showcase a book authored by children and young individuals, recounting the rich history of the San Silverio community within the Maya region.

Tania Landero, President of the Letras Itinerantes Foundation and coordinator of Na’at Fest unveiled a captivating lineup of activities. The festival kicks off on October 1st at 10 a.m. with a traditional Mayan ceremony called Chilam Balam, led by Priest Eligio Canul Dzib, at the Tuk Tulum Hotel. Following this, attendees can immerse themselves in a world of literary delights with the Librobús and Cuentacuentos (Storytellers) sessions. Later in the day, there’s an opportunity to engage in Chi-kung with Tibetan Bowls, a Maya Chess workshop, and, at 3 p.m., a storytelling session titled “The Twin Brothers in Xibalba.” As the day unfolds, prepare for an enchanting display of Poetry Theater at 4 p.m., followed by a Poetic Catwalk at 5 p.m., and a grand Cocktail Closure at 6 p.m.

The Na’at program continues its journey on October 2nd in the Hondzonot community. Starting at 10 a.m., the Librobús set up shop for book enthusiasts, while the Cuentacuentos captivate audiences at 11 a.m. At noon, it’s time to unwind with a Chi Kung workshop, followed by a captivating reading session at 12 p.m. The day continues with a Poetic Walk at 2 p.m. and Artistic Workshops at 3 p.m.

On October 3rd, the festival will find its grand finale at the sports dome in Dos Aguas Park. The day starts at 10 a.m. with the Librobús and Animation, followed by a Chi Kung workshop at 11 a.m. The enchanting world of storytelling returns at noon with the Cuentacuentos, while the afternoon brings a Maya Chess workshop at 1 p.m. Poetry enthusiasts will delight in the Maya Poetry Reading at 2 p.m., followed by a storytelling workshop for adults and young adults at 3 p.m. The grand finale of the festival, complete with acknowledgments and awards, takes place at 6 p.m.

Landero emphasized the creative and disruptive aspects of the festival, particularly highlighting the poetic catwalk as a means to convey profound messages of consciousness to the audience. She noted that the festival’s origin dates back two years when they embarked on a project to create a book, born out of their community library program. The first library was established in San Silverio, where young individuals and children partook in workshops and began to document the history of this program. They conducted interviews with elders, conducted extensive research, and penned a book they were eager to present. However, the printing of the book remains pending, and one of their primary objectives is to secure resources through sponsorships from individuals and organizations passionate about supporting literary and expressive initiatives within communities.

All the events in the Festival of Letters and Knowledge are entirely free of charge. Interested individuals can find further information about the festival on the Letras Itinerantes Foundation’s Facebook and Instagram pages.