Gopashtami, a day dedicated to the cows and cattles that nourish humans, is celebrated on the 8th day (Ashtami) of Kartik Month, according to the Hindu calendar. According to the English calendar, it falls between October to November.

Gopashtami is dedicated to ‘Gau mata’, the holy cow that Hindus consider pure, pious, and sacred. She nourishes all human beings, no matter their gender, caste, religion, or class. It is also mostly celebrated in the northern part of India, with Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat being the hotspots.
Date and Muhurat of Gopashtami
According to Drik Panchang, in 2024, “Gopashtami Timings - Saturday, November 9, 2024”
And the Muhurat dates are - “Ashtami Tithi starts -November 08, 2024 at 01:26 PM

Ashtami date ends -November 09, 2024 at 12:15 PM”
The significance of Gopashtami

The importance and legends of Gopashtami are related to Lord Krishna, and his love for cows. In fact, it was on this day that Lord Krishna decided he wanted to be a cow herder, or a ‘Gwala’ as people call in Hindi.

According to Hindu legends, Lord Krishna spent his childhood in Gokul and Vrindavan, surrounded by greenery and herds of cattle. There, he developed a special love for cows and how they nourished all beings. From their own calf to the baby of a human, it was the cow who gave them nourishment in the form of milk. And so, Lord Krishna wanted to be one of the Gopas.
Some also believe that it was on Gopashtami, that Nanda Maharaj, Krishna's foster father, gave him the responsibility of looking after the cows.
The rituals on Gopashtami

The day of Gopaashtami is celebrated with some simple rituals and ceremonies, and all members of the family can take part in them. From early morning prayers, to Gau puja, Gopashtami makes people realise their closeness to ‘Gau mata’.
On the day of Gopashtami, the people who own cows, bathe them early in the morning and then offer them fruits, flowers, and more. In fact, the cows are also made to wear garlands, and their horns are painted with beautiful colours.

They are also offered food like jaggery, sweets, and high-quality fodder (Chaara), and when worshipping Lord Krishna, he is offered cow milk, curd, ghee, and more.

In some states, people also decorate their homes with cow dung, and the process is called ‘Lipai’.
Along with decorating the cows, people in many villages also come together in processions to bring the cows together. They also make their kids dress as Lord Krishna, with a flute in hand, and Morpankh on their heads, and the cows walk alongside the little Krishna’s.
The grand celebrations in Vrindavan

In Vrindavan especially, Gopashtami is celebrated with great love and enthusiasm. The temples are decorated with lights, the cows are bathed and dressed up in bright colours, every temple has chants and bhajans of Lord Krishna, and more.

In fact, some devotees also perform the Govardhan parikrama on this day.
The love and respect for cows in Hinduism


Cattle, especially cows, hold a sacred place in the heart of Hindus. To Hindus, cows aren’t just animals they keep in the Gaushalas, but have the status of a mother who nourishes them and helps them grow in life.

To some, the cow is a holy animal inside which every Hindu God and Goddess resides, and to others, she is a form of Maa Lakshmi who blesses them with the wealth of health.

Plus, since time immemorial, cows have been linked to Lord Krishna, and he is often seen playing his flute with a herd of cows around him.
Apart from religious reasons, everyone knows the importance of cows in a country like India. Being a ‘Krishi pradhan’ (Agriculture first) country, India has always been dependent on cows for ploughing fields, producing milk and dairy products, and providing manure, which is used as a natural fertiliser. Cow dung too was used as a fuel source in many rural households.