Catch Me If You Can

Rooted in an ancient tradition of the Angkor communities, the festival takes place in March.

It is held every year on the eve of the ceremony marking the end of the rice harvest season.

In keeping with tradition, the fishing takes place in an old reservoir and precedes spiritual rites dedicated to the local protective spirits. In rural Khmer tradition, the lake is regarded as a living space. The elders pay tribute to the spirits that guard the lake, while villagers ask for protection and for abundant harvests and fish.

This fishing event is not simply about providing food. It is regarded as part of the ancestral heritage of the Angkor region. The economy of the Khmer Empire relied heavily on reservoirs and water basins.

Some collective fishing traditions may date back to this ancient system of water management.

The event strengthens local identity, social ties, and collective memory.