Celebrating Day of the Arts 2026

To celebrate World Art Day, New Acropolis main centre hosted a unique evening titled “The Beauty and Purpose of Numbers in Nature and Music,” bringing together philosophy, mathematics and music in an engaging interdisciplinary dialogue on 27 June 2026. The event was an exploration that demonstrated how numerical principles are living patterns that shape beauty, balance, and coherence in the universe. The New Acropolis School of Philosophy has joined UNESCO’s International Art Day initiative since 2024. The Day of Arts is a celebration of the arts as a universal language of expression, transcending borders and bringing people together.

This event was covered by NDTV and Free Press Journal (Click for Details)

Sivan Barzilay, Branch Manager of New Acropolis Mumbai Center, opened the evening by sharing that Philosophy, Science and Art are different expressions of the same human quest. The exploration began with Prof. Anish Ghosh, Dean of the School of Mathematics at TIFR, in a dialog with Philosopher, Philanthropist and member of New Acropolis Zarina Screwvala spoke about the relationship between mathematics and nature as an ongoing complexity, which scientists are still unravelling. He showed us how mathematics is woven into the fabric of all forms of life.

The correlation of music with life and numbers continued through a conversation which allowed the audience to recognize the mathematics underlying complex musical rhythms. Acclaimed musician Zubin Balaporia on keyboards, drum maestro Gino Banks, and master percussionist on tabla Pandit Aditya Kalyaanpur, spoke about how their art form has transformed their lives. This session was facilitated by Dipti Sanzgiri, a senior teacher and Head of the Music Group at New Acropolis. The evening ended with an electrifying musical performance where an audience of over 200 were fully engaged, clapping along and beating time to the rhythms which culminated in a resounding standing ovation.

Audiences participated in a Fibonacci exhibition and experience, which showcased how numbers underlie everything in our universe. Activities included: drawing the golden spiral, exploring the golden angle in floral geometry, a percussion circle, and more. The evening was anchored in the central question — Can we align our lives with the principles of harmony and order to live more meaningfully? And it invited participants to reflect on the profound patterns that shape both the natural world and human expression.

The audience appreciated the programme’s ability to reveal the profound relationship between mathematics, art and philosophy. The event reflects New Acropolis’ commitment to promoting culture, philosophy and lifelong learning through meaningful public dialogues.

This event was facilitated entirely by volunteers, and was part of a year-long celebration marking 20 years of New Acropolis School of Philosophy in India

Sivan Barzilay
Sivan S. Barzilay is a philosopher and the Branch Manager of New Acropolis Mumbai Center. With more than 25 years of experience as a practicing philosopher, she has devoted her work to exploring how timeless philosophical principles can be applied to everyday life to foster meaning, purpose, and growth.

Prof. Anish Ghosh
Anish Ghosh is a Professor of Mathematics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research and is Dean of the School of Mathematics. He specializes in a branch of mathematics called Ergodic theory which is the study of chaotic systems. He is particularly interested in understanding the deep connections between ergodic theory, number theory and geometry.

Zarina Screwvala
Philosopher & Philanthropist Zarina Screwvala is a member of New Acropolis and co-founder of Swades Foundation, working to empower Rural India.

Zubin Balaporia
Zubin Balaporia is a passionate Music Educator, Producer & Music Director. He has composed music for Film, Tele-Series, Documentaries and Theatre Musicals and has conducted several music masterclasses. He is also the founding member of the iconic Indian rock band – Indus Creed (formerly Rock Machine) Indus Creed has performed alongside Carlos Santana, Def Leppard and Bon Jovi.

Gino Banks
Drum Maestro Gino Banks is acclaimed for his mastery over multiple genres from jazz and rock to fusion and pop. A passionate music educator and son of legendary jazz pianist Louis Banks, Gino has played with artists such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia and international musicians like Dave Holland, Chris Potter and Mike Stern.

Pandit Aditya Kalyaanpur
Master percussionist on tabla Pandit Aditya Kalyaanpur is deeply rooted in the Punjab Gharana. His musical journey extends across multiple gharanas, allowing him to absorb diverse influences and build a vast repertoire. A child prodigy, his formal training began under the legendary Ustad Alla Rakha, and later continued under Ustad Zakir Hussain, laying a strong foundation rooted in tradition, discipline and excellence. Aditya has performed with legends such as Ustad Zakir Hussain, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma and his International collaborations include Katy Perry and Herbie Hancock.

Dipti Sanzgiri
Philosopher Dipti Sanzgiri is a senior teacher and Head of the Music Group at New Acropolis Mumbai. Dipti comes from a family of classical artists and has trained in classical music.