IN WESTERN Christianity, it begins on the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas Day, which is November 27 this year. Christianity is the largest religion of the world, while Hinduism, with about a billion adherents, is the oldest and third largest.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement from the US expressed warmest greetings on the Advent season; wishing that it brought joy, peace, and blessings to all. Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, stressed that all religions should work together for a just and peaceful world. Dialogue would bring us mutual enrichment, he added.

Advent triggers an age-old ritual of waiting and preparing to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The origin of Advent and the Advent calendar goes back to German Lutherans, who in early 19th century used to count 24 days leading to Christmas by drawing a chalk on a door each day. Families also had detailed plans to mark these days by lighting a candle or hanging a religious picture on the wall each day.