Written by the Trekiva Footwear team, who design and test open-toe sandals for Indian festive wear year-round.
Diwali is one of those days when your feet quietly do more work than almost any other part of you. Puja in the morning, relatives dropping in through the afternoon, a friend's party or a pandal visit by evening, and somewhere in between, standing around in a kurta for hours while everyone clicks photos. By the time the diyas are lit and the last guest leaves, most men are secretly dying to kick their footwear off.
I work in footwear branding at Trekiva, and every festive season, I see the same pattern play out. Men spend weeks planning their kurta, matching it with the right stole, getting the fit tailored, and then, almost as an afterthought, they grab "whatever" for their feet. By evening, that afterthought is the only thing they're thinking about.
This guide is about fixing that, with a bit of honest opinion from someone who thinks about festive footwear for a living.
Why Regular Footwear Fails You on Diwali
Not every shoe is built to survive a Diwali day, and it has nothing to do with how expensive or stylish it looks in the store.
Closed shoes and front-packed, structured footwear are the biggest culprits. They're built for a controlled environment, like an office or a car ride or an air-conditioned room, not six hours of standing, walking between houses, and sitting cross-legged during puja. Your feet swell slightly as the day goes on, especially with all the standing and the heat of diyas and crowds, and a closed shoe simply doesn't give you room to breathe.
The other mistake I see constantly is men choosing their outfit first and treating footwear as an afterthought. They finalize the kurta, the color, the accessories, and then, right before stepping out, they grab whatever's lying near the door. That's exactly backwards. If you visualize your full look beforehand, including what's on your feet, you avoid the last-minute scramble and the discomfort that comes with it.
My Take: Open-Toe Sandals Are the Real Answer for Traditional Wear
Here's an opinion I hold pretty strongly. For traditional Indian menswear, open-toe sandals, especially kolhapuri-style designs, are almost always the better choice over closed shoes or sneaker-style footwear.
It's not just an aesthetic preference. Kolhapuri and open-toe designs let your feet breathe, which matters enormously when you're on your feet for hours in warm, festive crowds. They don't trap heat or moisture the way a closed shoe does, and there's no break-in stiffness digging into your ankle by hour five. It's exactly why the kolhapuri silhouette has stayed a go-to for Indian festive wear for generations, comfort was built into the design long before "all-day comfort" became a marketing phrase.
And practically speaking, a good pair of dark-colored open-toe sandals goes with almost any kurta color you throw at it: cream, maroon, mustard, navy, you name it. That versatility is underrated. Most men own multiple kurtas but only one "festive shoe," and dark sandals solve that problem instantly instead of forcing you to shop for footwear every time you change your outfit. Browse the full range of men's sandals to see what fits your wardrobe.
The other thing worth saying clearly is that this isn't a one-day-a-year purchase. A well-made open-toe sandal doesn't just work with your Diwali kurta, it slides comfortably into casual wear or even smart-casual office days. You're not buying something that sits in the cupboard for 364 days.
What "All-Day Comfortable" Actually Means in a Sandal
When I talk about comfort for a festive sandal, I mean something specific, not just "soft," but engineered for a full day of standing, walking, and sitting down repeatedly.
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A cushioned, supportive footbed that doesn't flatten out after two hours of standing during aarti
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An adjustable buckle closure, so the fit stays secure whether your feet are slightly swollen by evening or you're wearing them with or without socks
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An anti-skid sole, because Diwali means marble floors, temple steps, and sometimes rain-slicked pavements, and slipping in a crowd is the last thing you want
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A lightweight, flexible build, so the sandal moves with your foot instead of fighting it with every step
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A quick break-in, since festive footwear shouldn't need a week of "wearing it around the house" before it's usable on the day itself
This is exactly the brief we work from at Trekiva when we design our open-toe and buckle-closure sandals. If any one of these elements is missing, you'll feel it by the third hour of the day, guaranteed.
A Few Trekvia Options Built for This Exact Day
If you're shopping with this checklist in mind, here's where I'd point you, based on what each style does best.
Men's Open-Toe Slip-On Sandals with Cross Straps (TPG-3052) offer a clean, kolhapuri-inspired cross-strap silhouette with an adjustable buckle and cushioned footbed. This is my go-to recommendation for someone who wants the classic kolhapuri look without sacrificing an all-day fit.
Men's Open-Toe Slip-On Sandals with Arch Support (TPG-3036) are built specifically for people who are on their feet longer than average, think the guy doing the full relative-hopping circuit. The contoured arch support genuinely reduces fatigue by evening.
Men's Sandals with Adjustable Buckle Closure (TPG-3075) bring a more minimal, versatile design that works equally well for the office the next morning. A good pick if you want one pair that earns its place in your everyday rotation, not just your festive one.
Men's Slip-On Sandals with Buckle Closure (TPG-3082) are our most premium build in this lineup, with the same buckle-and-arch-support combination in a slightly more refined finish, for anyone who wants a dressier edge without going back to closed shoes.
All of them come in dark colorways like black and brown, which, as I mentioned, is a deliberate choice. Dark sandals are the safest, most versatile pairing across kurta colors. You'll find even more festive-ready options in our Diwali gifting collection and our latest new arrivals.
H3- How to Actually Choose, Based on Your Diwali Day
If you're short on time, here's the simple way to decide.
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Full day of standing and walking (temple, pandal hopping, multiple homes): go for arch support, either the TPG-3036 or the TPG-3082.
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Mostly seated puja and gatherings at home, with some walking: the classic cross-strap or buckle sandal, the TPG-3052 or the TPG-3075, will serve you well.
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Want one pair for Diwali and daily wear after: the TPG-3075 or the TPG-3082, both versatile enough to move from festive to office to weekend without feeling out of place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are kolhapuri sandals appropriate for Diwali puja and festive occasions? Yes. Kolhapuri and other open-toe sandal styles are traditionally worn with Indian festive attire and are actually more practical than closed shoes for the standing, sitting, and walking a typical Diwali day involves.
What should I look for in comfortable footwear for all-day Diwali wear? Focus on a cushioned footbed, an adjustable buckle closure for a secure fit as your feet swell slightly through the day, an anti-skid sole for temple floors and steps, and a lightweight, flexible build that doesn't need breaking in.
Do dark-colored sandals really go with every kurta color? Generally, yes. Black and brown sandals are neutral enough to pair with cream, maroon, mustard, navy, and most other festive kurta colors, which is why they're a safer buy than lighter or brighter footwear if you only want one pair.
Can I wear these sandals after Diwali, or are they only for festive use? Styles like the TPG-3075 and TPG-3082 are designed for daily, office, and travel use as well, so they don't have to sit unused for the rest of the year.
How do I pick the right size for a buckle-closure sandal? Place your foot on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark your longest toe and heel, measure the distance in centimeters, and match it to Trekiva's size chart. The adjustable buckle also gives some flexibility if you're between sizes.
Ready to Upgrade Your Diwali Footwear?
Don't leave your feet to chance this Diwali. Explore the full Trekiva men's sandals collection and pick the pair that matches how your day actually looks, whether that's temple-hopping from morning to night or hosting guests at home. Comfortable feet make for a better festival, and a better set of photos too.
About the author: This post was written by the team at Trekiva Footwear, an Indore-based brand designing everyday and festive sandals for men, with a focus on cushioned comfort, durable builds, and kolhapuri-inspired styling for Indian occasions.
