SIEM REAP: Every year, after the rice harvest has ended, the people of Bangkong village, Ampil commune, Prasat Bakong district, Siem Reap province, go fishing together for food during the Nak Ta (ancestral or tutelary deity) ceremony every February.

This fishing ceremony takes place in an ancient lake where the villagers conserve fish to avoid overfishing and only catch fish together once a year during the Nak Ta Ascension Ceremony.

The Chief of Bangkong Village in Ampil Commune, Pich Khin, said that the 2023 fishing ceremony will be held on Wednesday, 1 February, which is the 11th day of Meak (Cambodian Lunar Calendar) this year, because there is not much water in the lake. The lake, however, still produces a lot of fish, so he expects people to be happy while fishing for the Nak Ta Ascension Ceremony.

He said that in the early hours of the morning, hundreds of people, young and old, boys and girls, will arrive at the lake with fishing nets and cages to begin catching fish.

The ceremony's organizing committee has set up a specific area of the lake to catch fish, eat and cook for the monks in the ascension ceremony. Families can catch fish to cook for themselves. People who live outside of the village do not have the right to catch fish from the lake, only Bangkong villagers are allowed.

Yoeun Dara, a 24-year-old resident of Bangkong village, Ampil commune, Prasat Bakong district, said that the joint fishing ceremony in the conservation lake has been a tradition of Bangkong villagers since ancient times and has observed villagers taking part in the ceremony since he was a child.

He said that once a year, the villagers can catch fish together and cook food for the ascension ceremony, which also demonstrates the unity between the people of this community.

As a member of the younger generation, he has committed to preserving this cultural tradition that his ancestors left behind, and to pass it on to future generations to continue practicing as well.

The people of Angkor to this day continue to preserve ancient cultural traditions, both tangible and intangible. Every year, local residents come together to celebrate various events around the Angkor area, such as: the Leang Meak Leang Neak Ta ceremony, the Ko Chup ceremony and many other religious ceremonies, all of which contribute to the continuation of the identity of Angkor.

^{SOURCE: Apsara Authority}