Thousands join the Memet Ikan tradition in Klaten

Thousands of people took part in the Memet Ikan tradition at the Gemblegan Village pond in Kalikotes District, Klaten Regency, Central Java, on Sunday. The event was held to commemorate the 222nd anniversary of Klaten Regency. Since morning, residents from various regions flocked to the location carrying their own nets. Children and adult men gathered in a lively atmosphere, freely catching fish of various sizes, some weighing over 1 kg. Supriyadi, a 42-year-old resident from Tambaksari Village, said he spent about an hour in the pond and managed to catch around five pomfret, which he planned to consume with his family at home. Event chairman Niko Joko Pramono explained that preparations, including breeding approximately 2 tonnes of fish such as pomfret, tilapia, and catfish, had been carried out over the past four months with the local village-owned enterprise. He expressed hope that the community would enjoy the fish and that the free entertainment would help meet family nutritional needs to prevent stunting. Pramono noted that the Memet Ikan tradition, which he described as a ‘fish festival’, had existed for years as a village-level activity before being elevated to a district event. Klaten Regent Hamenang Wajar Ismoyo, who attended the event, said the distribution of 2 tonnes of fish was part of the anniversary celebrations and included door prizes such as refrigerators and irons. He stated the activity was an expression of gratitude for the district’s 222nd anniversary and an implementation of the national ‘Gemar Makan Ikan’ (Love Eating Fish) programme. The regent expressed hope that the fish festival would foster a culture of sharing, strengthen community bonds, and increase fish consumption rates in Klaten Regency, ultimately boosting public intelligence through better nutrition.