Gopastami and Gosthastami

What is Gopastami?

Gopastami, also called Gosthastami, is the day Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama were first allowed to graze the cows with the cowherd men of Vrindavan. In 2026 it falls on Tuesday, 17 November.

Significance

Srimad-Bhagavatam describes how Krishna and Balarama reached the age of paugaṇḍa, the years from six to ten. Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that the senior men of Vrindavan, headed by Nanda Maharaja, promoted Krishna from tending calves to being a regular cowherd boy, caring for the full-grown cows, bulls and oxen. Walking barefoot in the forest, the Lord blessed Vrindavan with the marks of His lotus feet.

When Lord Rāma and Lord Kṛṣṇa attained the age of paugaṇḍa [six to ten] while living in Vṛndāvana, the cowherd men allowed Them to take up the task of tending the cows.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.15.1

How to observe it

Devotees can keep the day by reading or hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto, chapter 15, by remembering Krishna as Gopala, the keeper of cows, and by showing kindness to cows. This year it is also the disappearance day of Sri Gadadhara Dasa Gosvami, Sri Dhananjaya Pandita and Sri Srinivasa Acarya.