Try this delicately-spiced simple alu recipe from Bihar.
A mildly-spiced, sans too much garam masala 'hotel'-style potatoes with peas in a thick gravy that goes well with butter naans.
An encyclopedia to the best Durga Pujo eating.
Mahalaya, though essentially about the goddess, wasn't religious for us. And it isn't for most Bengalis. Mahalaya is an emotion. It's gooseflesh for a memory. A welling up of happy tears. A celebration of what is to come.