Kartika Shukla Ashtami, when Krishna first herded cows; cows and calves worshipped in Braj

Gopashtami, on Kartika Shukla Ashtami, is the day young Krishna and his brother Balarama were given charge of the cows for the first time. Until then they had only tended calves (as 'vatsapala'); when they came of age, Nanda Baba and Mother Yashoda performed a ceremony and sent them out to the pastures as full cowherds (gopala). So Krishna is worshipped on this day as Gopala, and cows, the most loved companions of his childhood, are honoured. According to another account, Indra surrendered to Krishna and bathed him with Kamadhenu's milk on this day after the lifting of Govardhan, and Krishna was named Govinda. In Mathura, Vrindavan and Nathdwara, cows are bathed, decorated with henna, bells and garlands, and worshipped with incense and lamps; devotees walk behind the cows, and in some places touch the dust of their hooves to their foreheads. Families feed cows green fodder, jaggery and rotis, and make donations to gaushalas. Radha is said to have dressed as a boy to join Krishna in the pastures on this day, so many temples dress Radha as a cowherd.

Some keep a fast until the cow puja.