Gopashtami, a festival dedicated to Lord Krishna and cows, will be celebrated on November 4 this year. The auspicious Hindu festival is celebrated with great fervour and valour in Mathura, Vrindavan and other Braj areas. On this day, devotees perform special Gau-Puja (Cow Worship), where they clean and decorate the cow stables, and pray to Lord Krishna as well as cows, who are considered to be extremely holy for Hindus. The Gopashtami Puja is done on the eight day after the Diwali Amavasya (Ashtami Tithi). This festival holds immense significance for Hindus in North India, and conducting Krishna Puja and cow Puja is said to be customary. UP Government Suspends District Magistrate, 5 Others For Negligence in Cow Protection in State.

Gopastami is said to be the day when Lord Krishna’s father, Nanda Maharaja, gave Krishna the responsibility for taking care of the cows of Vrindavan. Before this day, Lord Krishna tended to only calves, but on Gopashtami, he is said to have started serving as a cowherd. This festival is accompanied by an array of rituals and Pujas, and is particularly popular among the agricultural community, who rever cows a lot. There are various mythological stories that are associated with the celebration of Gopashtami in India. As we prepare to celebrate this auspicious festival, here’s everything you need to know about Gopastami.

When is Gopastami celebrated?

Gopashtami, which celebrates both Lord Krishnas as well as the holy cows, falls on the eight day (ashtami) in bright phase (Krishna Paksh) of the Hindu month Kartik. The Gopashtami Puja will be done on November 4th, below is the Gopashtami start and end time. People usually conduct the Gopashtami Puja in the mornings.

  • Ashtami Tithi Begins - 02:56 AM on Nov 04, 2019

  • Ashtami Tithi Ends - 04:57 AM on Nov 05, 2019

Why is Gopashtami Celebrated?

Gopashtami celebrates Lord Krishna’s transition to a cowherd. Krishna, who had been tending to cattle for five years, is believed to have finally started his journey of taking care of the cows of Vrindavan on this day. Krishna’s father, Nanda Maharaj, is said to have given this responsibility to Lord Krishna and his brother Balarama, on Gopashtami.

There are other ancient stories that revolve around this day, that make this celebration all the more cherishable. According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Krishna lifted the Govardhan Hills on his little finger, on the day of Govardhan Puja, to save the people of Braj from Lord Indra’s unabashed anger. After trying to flood the Braj area for 7 days, Lord Indra is said to have finally stepped back on Gopashtami. It is believed that all the people and livestock in Braj were saved from this catastrophe because of Lord Krishna’s protective step.

On the day of Gopashtami, the cowsheds are all cleaned and decorated, calves and cows are given holy baths and dressed up and worshipped. People pray to the holy cow that thank them for providing us with utilities like milk all year around. People also pray to Lord Krishna and sing songs and aartis to please the deity. Gopashtami is a festival that holds immense significance in the Braj area of Uttar Pradesh, and we wish that this day fills your life with hope and prosperity.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 03, 2019 09:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).