Currently, there is music blasting outside through loudspeakers, filling my room and entire apartment with a continuous chorus of words I can’t make out, and even if I could, I wouldn’t be able to understand. This has been going on for a couple of days now, as this week is Chhath Puja, a festival to celebrate and worship the sun god. Normally, this non-stop music would make me grate my teeth in frustration and put me in a foul mood. When I first moved into my apartment ten months ago, the pounding music, from dawn throughout the whole night, was the soundtrack to my first memories. It was one of the many things that annoyed me as soon as I moved here. Many times, when people move to a new country or city, they go through a “honeymoon period” where they delight in and love every new sight and sound of their new abode. I did not go through such a honeymoon period, but was immediately plagued with sickness, discomfort, loneliness, and a plethora of annoyances.
This past month has been filled with some of the most important Hindu festivals, and there has been a festive feeling throughout the city, almost akin to the holiday season in the States throughout December, but more intense; it has been a mix of American Independence Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, all rolled into one. Most buildings and entire streets are covered in colorful, blinking lights and decorations of all different shapes and sizes, the neighborhood paths are lined with streamers, firecrackers are shot off all throughout the day and fill the sky with splendor at night, and families open their homes for feasting. The festive feeling has been quite infectious, and I am surprised by the beauty surrounding me. There are plenty of annoyances that still fill my day: the loud crackers make me start and jump throughout the day, many shops haven’t been open for days and wanted groceries are in low quantity or out of stock, and the aforementioned unwanted music is still the background soundtrack to my daily activities. However, I am realizing that there are so many beautiful things to focus on, rather than the annoyances. This is not of my own accord, but I attribute it to the work of Christ in me, as He is softening my heart to this place and reminding me of the glory in the simply magnificent celebration of a new culture. When a national opened up her home to me for Chaath Puja to celebrate with her family and friends, her brother asked me, “How are you liking this place?” For the first time, I was genuinely able to answer, “I love this place.” And as the music continues to fill my apartment all day and into the night, I find myself actually enjoying it.