Every autumn, Durga Puja changes the feel of West Bengal. The Goddess returns to her maternal home, the streets fill with lights and pandals go up in every neighbourhood of Kolkata. For many of us, pandal hopping is the heart of the festival.
It also means long hours on your feet: walking from pandal to pandal, standing in queues and staying out late into the night. A little preparation helps your feet keep up, so you can enjoy all the days of the Puja.
Why foot care matters during the Puja
Your feet carry your whole body. Each foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and more than 100 muscles, tendons and ligaments working together. When they are tired or sore, it affects how you walk, and that can lead to pain in your knees, hips and back as well.
Walking for hours on hard roads, often in new or dressy footwear, can bring on problems such as:
- Foot cramps: tired muscles can tighten suddenly and painfully. Not drinking enough water, long hours of walking and poor circulation make cramps more likely. Rest, stretching and plenty of water usually help; see a doctor if cramps keep coming back.
- Leg length difference: when one leg is a little longer than the other, long walks can bring on ankle, heel, knee or back pain. An insole or heel raise made for you can even things out.
- Ankle pain: ankle pain that comes back or doesn’t settle can stop your festival in its tracks. If you already have a weak or painful ankle, get it checked before the Puja.
- Blisters: blisters form when shoes rub against the skin. They make walking painful and can become infected if they break.
The good news is that most of these can be prevented. Here is how to get your feet ready.
Foot care tips for pandal hopping
Prepare your feet ahead of time
Start walking a little every day in the weeks before the Puja. Begin with 10 minutes and build up to 30 minutes to an hour. This gets your feet and legs used to longer walks, so the festival days feel easier.
Choose the right shoes and socks
New footwear is part of Puja fashion, but don’t keep it in the box until the first day. Wear your new shoes or sandals around the house for a few days and notice where they press or rub.
For long walks, choose footwear with a cushioned sole, good support for your arch and enough room for your toes. Save the heels and stiff new shoes for shorter outings.
A little moisturiser or anti-chafing balm on spots that rub can help prevent blisters. Wear socks that keep your feet dry: cotton blends or sports socks that draw moisture away from the skin.
Get your feet checked
When did you last have your feet checked? If you have foot pain, diabetes or an old injury, see a foot doctor before the Puja. A foot doctor can look at how you stand and walk and suggest footwear that will let you stand and walk for longer in comfort.
Custom insoles
Custom insoles spread your weight more evenly across the soles of your feet and support your arches, which eases pressure during long walks. They are made from a scan of your feet, so a foot examination comes first. This tells you what your feet need and which insole will suit you.
A few more tips for healthy feet
- Keep your feet dry. Carry a spare pair of socks if it rains.
- Carry plasters, especially if you are wearing new shoes, and cover any spot that starts to rub before it becomes a blister.
- Drink plenty of water while you are out.
- Don’t try to see every pandal in one day. Plan a shorter route and take breaks to rest your feet.
- When you get home, wash your feet in warm water, dry them well, especially between the toes, and apply a moisturiser.
- Rest with your feet raised on a pillow to ease swelling after a long day.
- In the morning, do some gentle stretches: point and flex your feet, circle your ankles and spread your toes.
- If you have diabetes, check your feet every night for cuts, blisters or redness, and see your doctor about anything that doesn’t heal.
Enjoy the Puja
The joy of Durga Puja is hard to put into words, and everyone waits all year for it. Look after your feet with these simple steps, and you can enjoy every day of pandal hopping in comfort.
