Gopa Ashtami 2121

Gopa Ashtami (also called Gopashtami) falls on the eighth day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) of Kartika, and commemorates the day young Krishna, having reached the age of six, was entrusted by Nanda Maharaj 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 Vaishnava communities, ceremonially walking cattle through the village or temple grounds. Cows are honored throughout the year in Vaishnava tradition, but Gopa Ashtami is the day set aside specifically to celebrate Krishna's own bond with them.

Commonly searched as: “Gopa Ashtami 2121 Columbus”, “Gopashtami Columbus 2121”, “Gopa Ashtami Columbus 2122”