Legend about Mai An Tiem - The Father of Watermelon
About 70km from Thanh Hoa City, Mai An Tiem Temple ( Nga Phu Commune, Nga Son District) is nestled next to a series of mountains shaped like an arch, with a poetic and peaceful scene. This place is associated with the legend of Mai An Tiem's determination and will to overcome difficulties.
According to legend, Mai An Tiem is the 18th Hung King, prominent with wisdom and talent, loved by the king, married his daughter and gave many buds. However, due to the saying: "The gift is of worry, of the thought of debt", he was disregarded by bad guys. The king was angry, exiled to the whole family to the island (now in Nga Phu commune), between waves and a shortage of hundreds of surfaces.
In the midst of harsh desert, Mai An Tiem and her husband steadfastly seek to survive, build tents from rocks, find fresh water in grottos and dig crab, and catch snails to maintain their lives. One day, a strange bird dropped a piece of bad watermelon, he discovered it was like a precious fruit, so he took the seeds to plant. From the red pickles that the strange bird brought, with the help of labor, Mai An Tiem and her husband have a garden of watermelon, large, red and green, with a refreshing sweet taste. Just like that, watermelon gardens gradually spread all over the playground and continuously produced flowers and fruits.
Over time, the melon seeds sowed by Mai An Tiem have germinated and developed strongly. In the harvest season, he carved the word on the melon shell and dropped into the sea, hoping the waves would take them to the mainland and reach the king. As expected, people picked up melon and stretched on King Hung. Knowing that Mai An Tiem's family was still alive, the king admired the will and talent of his son -in -law, immediately sent people to welcome them back.
Mai An Tiem Festival - Preserving ethnic cultural values
Mr. Tran Van Hoa, cultural officer of Nga Phu commune ( Nga Son district, Thanh Hoa), said that Mai An Tiem temple has existed for a long time, initially just a small place of worship. In 2010, the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province allowed the restoration and restoration of the temple at the same location where Mai An Tiem used to live. The restoration was completed in 2012.
The temple is built in the traditional Vietnamese temple architecture, with a four-pillar gate, a pillar top with a flip-off phoenix, and four lanterns decorated with Long - Ly - Quy - Phuong. Currently, the temple still preserves 4 ancient royal decrees, including 3 royal decrees of the Nguyen Dynasty, dark yellow, about 1m long.
According to the cultural officer of Nga Phu commune, annually from 12 to 14.3 lunar calendar, Nga Son district held Mai An Tiem festival to commemorate his merits and overcoming spirit. The festival attracts thousands of attendees, with traditional rituals such as procession, incense, sacrifice and recreating Mai An Tiem's life - a person with the first watermelon to create watermelon breeds in Vietnam. This is also an opportunity for people and tourists to review the tradition of hard work, creativity, perseverance and love for the homeland and the country.
Mr. Hoa shared: "The image of Mai An Tiem overtaking among the deserted island is a symbol of the self -reliance spirit of the Vietnamese nation. After thousands of years, that story still inspires the younger generation on the journey to build a creative and persistent future. The Mai An Tiem festival not only honors a working hero, but also reminds of the value of true labor, confidence in self and overcoming the situation."
Today, when coming to Mai An Tiem Temple, visitors can immerse themselves in the poetic natural scenery, with the vast rice fields in front and the rain-shaped mountains and green trees surrounded by them. On the occasion of Hung Vuong's Commemoration Day (March 10 of the lunar calendar), the government and people of Nga Phu commune are busy preparing for the Mai An Tiem Festival, welcoming visitors from all over to celebrate and pray for a peaceful and lucky year.
