Gopāṣṭamī 2245

Gopa Aṣṭamī (also called Gopāṣṭamī) falls on the eighth day of the bright fortnight (Śukla Pakṣa) of Kārtika, and commemorates the day young Kṛṣṇa, having reached the age of six, was entrusted by Nanda Mahārāja with grazing the cows himself, graduating from calf-herding to full cowherd (gopa) duties among the boys of Vraja.

The day is marked by worship of cows and calves, decorating and feeding them, and in many Vaiṣṇava communities, ceremonially walking cattle through the village or temple grounds. Cows are honored throughout the year in Vaiṣṇava tradition, but Gopa Aṣṭamī is the day set aside specifically to celebrate Kṛṣṇa's own bond with them.