5 Amazing Things You'll Discover in Richa Kedia Monsoon Sketch Session Nature Walk
A Monsoon Sketching Session
Date: 17th August 2025
Time: 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM
Venue: Nehar Sahibi, Najafgarh, Delhi
Led by: Richa Kedia
Participants: 6 (Doctor, Banker, Sculpture Artist, Painting Artist)
A Monsoon Morning of Art and Nature
As the first light of dawn gently touched the earth, the sky hung low with silver clouds, and the air held the quiet promise of a monsoon morning. By 6:45 AM, all six participants, along with our session leader, Richa Kedia, gathered at Nehar Sahibi, an urban oasis tucked away in the heart of Najafgarh, Delhi.
Nehar Sahibi, with its lush fields and regenerative ethos, stood glistening with dew and drenched in green. This space, established in 2019 to reconnect urban lives with native ecology, provided the perfect backdrop for a morning of mindful sketching and nature connection.
The participants—each from a different walk of life—ranged from a doctor and a banker to a sculpture artist and a painting artist. Despite their different professions, all shared a common thread: the urge to slow down and immerse themselves in nature through art.
The session began with warm greetings and a brief introduction to Asian Adventures, Delhi Earth Walks, and the upcoming Global Wildlife Fair (October 10–12, 2025) at the Constitution Club of India. There was a palpable buzz of excitement and curiosity in the air.
The Art of Observing
Richa Kedia, a seasoned artist known for her work with WWF India, TRAFFIC, AIIMS, and various environmental organizations, welcomed everyone with her trademark warmth and enthusiasm. She spoke about her journey—how she uses sketching as a tool not just for art, but for deep observation and connection with the natural world.
She introduced simple techniques to help participants break down a landscape into shapes and lines, encouraging them to draw what they feel, not just what they see. With her guidance, the group soon found themselves lost in strokes and shades, capturing the monsoon mood around them—the glistening leaves, the fluttering butterflies, and the moody skies above.
Richa’s instructions were gentle yet precise: how to build outlines, how to play with wet colors in a humid monsoon setting, and how to let the paper breathe with spontaneity.
Tea, Birds, and Butterflies
As the clock neared 9:00 AM, the sketchbooks were full, and so were the hearts. Participants were treated to hot Bread Pakoras and steaming cups of chai, enjoyed under a neem tree with soft drizzle adding rhythm to conversations.
But the experience didn’t end there.
A short nature walk around the farm followed. The group explored Nehar Sahibi’s thriving habitats—from restored native trees and seasonal vegetable gardens to the delightful butterfly garden. Along the way, they spotted over 22 species of birds, including the seasonal highlight—Pied Cuckoo (Jacobin Cuckoo), a harbinger of monsoon in Delhi skies.
More than 10 butterfly species fluttered past, joined by dragonflies, damselflies, and tiny spiders weaving webs between leaf blades. It was a living canvas—just like the ones the participants had tried to capture earlier that morning.
A Fulfilling Close
Though the session was scheduled till 9:00 AM, the group lingered till 9:45 AM, reluctant to part from the morning’s magic. With sketchbooks in hand and smiles on their faces, the participants left with a sense of calm, inspiration, and a deeper connection to the rhythms of nature.
It wasn’t just a sketching session—it was a celebration of art, ecology, and mindful living. And as the clouds rolled further into the horizon, Nehar Sahibi stood still, waiting for the next story to be painted on its fertile canvas.