Welcum Maa Durga

Durga Puja depicts the rich culture of Kolkata: the city of joy. 
This festive starts with the Mahalaya: Invoking Goddess Durga, an auspicious occasion observed seven days before the Durga Puja, and heralds the advent of Durga, the goddess of supreme power. It's a kind of invocation or invitation to the mother goddess to descend on earth - "Jago Tumi Jago". This is done through the chanting of mantras and singing devotional songs.
(Bengalis traditionally wake up at 4 in the morning on Mahalaya day to listen to the enchanting voice of the late Birendra Krishna Bhadra and the late Pankaj Kumar Mullick on All India Radio as they recite hymns from the scriptures from the Devi Mahatmyam (Chandi Path)
In childhood I used to set alarm of 4:30am to listen the mantras and songs plays in radio every year and the film of how Goddess Durga had killed the demon Mahisasura. Its a magical feeling. Now when I woke up to this day I make sure to be there at the bank of river Ganga. standing there looking at the rising Sun and having those Mahalaya Mantras (Jago Tumi jago) through ears in mind and heart, I can feel the divine power in nature and its blessings on people and me.