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By Mabel Pais
NILADRI KUMAAR, sitar maestro, maverick musician and composer, will perform on Thursday, November 5, 2026 in Manhattan, New York. This performance is presented by the World Music Institute (WMI – https://worldmusicinstitute.org).
Sitar maestro Niladri Kumaar is hailed as a maverick musician and composer, a celebrated ambassador, and an iconic figure in Indian music, renowned for his compelling and innovative style.
Central to his impressive portfolio is his long-running creative partnership with the late Zakir Hussain, a sitar-tabla dialogue that became one of the most beloved and significant collaborations in contemporary Indian music, including their sold-out WMI appearance at the Skirball Center in 2022.
“The Space Between the Notes,” an extraordinary live recording from Mumbai, India, captures the only documented full performance of Kumaar and Hussain together. This concert draws from that profound musical and personal bond, with a repertoire shaped by the spirit, spontaneity, and depth of their collaborations.
Watch Niladri & Zakir play together at a concert in 2022 @ https://worldmusicinstitute.org/niladri-kumar-at-adler-hall
Under the guidance and numerous years of training from the age of 4, under his father and guru, Niladri has gained an in-depth understanding, technique and unmatchable mastery over the sitar and developed his own distinct style. His music is greatly admired and he has earned a large following of ardent listeners across countries.
Being “sympathetic to pick up” new trends, Niladri decided to push the boundaries and go beyond his comfort zone to invent his own instrument – an electric sitar that he coined as the “Zitar”.
Hailed as one of the serious exponents of Indian classical music on the one hand and reinventing the contemporary modern space on the other, the Zitar culturally redefined the way audiences viewed Indian classical music.
Sound has waves, but his Zitar created ripples. Each endeavor he undertook was molded towards infusing interest and respect for the traditional art forms in the hearts and minds of the younger generation. The Zitar allowed him to express to a much more widespread audience, bridging the “age un-gap” as he calls it – where individuals from all walks of life can tune in and find a place in his music that they can call their own.
By amalgamating an equipoise between essence & trance sense, going beyond just the string, and striking the right chords of harmony between the golden scientific tradition & ever changing modern music, Niladri emerged as one of the finest and undisputed sitar & zitar masters.
Headlining this music metamorphosis and igniting a new route in the musical scene, he gained admiration for being able to stay true to his roots along with being able to create awareness and make his Indian heritage connect with many at a global scale.
Concert Details
What: Niladri Kumaar with Collaborators
When: Thursday, November 5, 2026 @ 8 PM; Doors open @ 7 PM
Where: New York Society for Ethical Culture, Adler Hall
2 West 64th Street, Manhattan, New York
Performers
Niladri and his electric sitar (zitar) will be joined on stage by Agnelo Fernandes (keys), Sambit Chatterjee (drums), and Satyajit Talwalkar (tabla) for a program of original compositions and selections closely connected to his work with Zakir Hussain, bringing their shared repertoire and musical conversation into the present.
Tickets
Tickets can be purchased in advance. Member benefits apply. At the door, prices are higher. To purchase tickets, visit https://ci.ovationtix.com/35721/production/1280542?performanceId=11829387
For Group, Student, and Senior discounts, contact us at 212-545-7536 Ext. 1 or at info@worldmusicinstitute.org.
World Music Institute’s Counterpoint Series
The Counterpoint series focuses on contemporary artists who push the boundaries of what “world music” can mean in the 21st Century.
World Music Institute (WMI)
Founded in 1985, World Music Institute (WMI) has served as one of the leading presenters of world music and dance within the United States. WMI is committed to presenting the best in traditional and contemporary music and dance from around the world to enrich lives through the arts, promote awareness and appreciation of the world’s rich cultural traditions, and encourage cross-cultural dialogue and exchange. WMI presents virtually and at venues throughout the city of New York and depends on public and private funding to accomplish its mission. Learn more at https://worldmusicinstitute.org
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ANU SEHGAL PRESENTS HER AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL CHILDREN’S BOOK ON DIWALI
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By Mabel Pais
Anu Sehgal, founder of The Culture Tree (https://theculturetree.com), in time for Diwali, and celebrating The Culture Tree’s tenth anniversary, presents her tenth children’s book – “My Diwali Story: A Story of Two Childhoods, One Light.”
The festival of Diwali is celebrated by Indians and the diaspora around the planet. It symbolizes emotions of love, light, and togetherness!
Sehgal’s “My Diwali Story” is a story close to her heart. As someone who grew up celebrating Diwali in India and is now raising two boys in New York City, Anu has often thought about how different her sons’ childhood celebrations are from hers.
Growing up in India, Diwali for her meant lighting diyas, decorating her home, visiting family, sharing sweets, and being surrounded by the excitement of the festival. Her boys are growing up with their own Diwali memories here in America, celebrating with friends, attending community gatherings, and finding their own connections to their traditions.
The celebrations may look different, but the spirit of Diwali remains the same. That’s what inspired her to write “My Diwali Story.”
The book is a celebration of two childhoods, two cultures, and the traditions that connect us across generations. It’s about sharing the magic of our own childhoods with our children while embracing the new memories they’re creating. She suggests that the book can be personalized for one’s own child. She wishes that the idea of children seeing themselves in a story about their heritage can inspire them to feel that these traditions belong to them, too. As The Culture Tree celebrates its 10th anniversary, Sehgal feels that releasing her 10th children’s book feels especially meaningful. Her hope has always been to help children connect with their heritage through stories, language, and shared cultural experiences.
Story Heroes (https://storyheroes.io), publisher of the book, helped bring this vision to life. The book can be an interesting read for one’s own children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or friends, and can perhaps become part of one’s family’s Diwali traditions.
Book Launch Schedule
“My Diwali Story” will have its official launch as follows:
Nov 6: NYPL
Nov 7: Asia Society Family Diwali
Nov 8: Diwali Puja for kids
Nov 8: CMOM Diwali
Nov 10: Seaport Diwali
Nov 12: BCM Diwali
To get a copy of the book, visit https://diwali.storyheroes.io
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