Story of Gopashtami

Story Drishti was a small girl in class three. One day, when she got up in the morning, she saw the entire house busy. Her mother was busy cooking something special, her grandmother was cleaning the Puja Ghar (temple), her father was in the backyard of the house bathing the cows and her grandfather was having tea while reading the newspaper. Drishti quickly went to the washroom, brushed her teeth, and came out running.

She asked her father, “What are you doing Dad?"

Her father said, “I will explain later, right now I am very busy.”

Then she asked her mother, “Mummy, is today anybody’s birthday? Is anybody coming home? Why are you cooking something special?”

Her mother also replied the same just like her father. Then she asked her grandmother, but she did not reply. Drishti kept asking at the top of her voice, but there was no reply. Then she realized her Daadi (Grandmother) was not wearing hearing aids. Tired and exhausted, Drishti sat next to her Grandfather.

She asked, “Daadu (Grandfather), do you know what is happening in the house today.”

Daadu replied, “Of course Yes Drishti! Today is Gopashtami Puja in the house. Puja will start in one hour, so you be ready by that time.”

Drishti said, “All right Daadu. But in the meanwhile, can you tell me all about Gopashtami?”

Grandfather said, “Okay, fine. I will tell you whatever I know about the Gopashtami festival.”

Gopashtami is our Hindu festival that is celebrated on the eighth day of the bright half of the Kartik month (usually falling in October or November). The word "Gopashtami" comes from "Gow," meaning cow, and "Ashtami," referring to the eighth day of the lunar calendar.

When Bhagwan Krishna was a young boy in Vrindavan, he and his friends used to take care of the calves. As he grew older, one particular day, his father, Nanda Maharaj, decided that Krishna was now old enough to take on the responsibility of herding adult cows rather than just the calves. That day Nanda Maharaj officially gave Krishna and his elder brother Balarama the duty of protecting and caring for the cows. Shri Krishna had a deep affection for cows, he used to take care of them, protect them, and love them.

This festival is celebrated as it was a big day for Bhagwan Krishna. He was given the big responsibility of herding adult cows and not just small calves. This day is a celebration of his maturity and the trust a father has in a child.

Your mother is cooking delicious food so that we offer Bhog (food offerings to Bhagwan) to Bhagwan Krishna. Your Grandmother is cleaning Pooja Ghar for all of us to sit and pray to Krishna Ji. Once we finish our puja here at home, then we will worship Gow Mata in the backyard.

We consider the cow as our mother who gives us milk and is considered a source of goodness and prosperity. So, we worship her on this day. We decorate her with new clothes and jewellery and paint her horns in bright colours. We also feed special fodder to her. This is what your father is doing in the backyard.

Grandfather said, “Drishti, now I have told you everything, you get ready quickly.”

Drishti replied, “Okay Daadu, but you haven’t told me, people who do not have cows at home, how do they celebrate this festival?”

Grandfather replied, “Alright! I will tell you”

“People who do not have cows at home, go to cow shelters, there they feed good fodder to them, clean them, bathe them, and decorate them. They pray to Bhagwan Krishna at home and then visit cow shelters.”

Drishti asked, “So when I grow up, I take up big responsibilities, will you celebrate that day?”

Her Grandfather laughed loudly and replied, “Let’s see.”

Satisfied by getting all the answers, Drishti went to get ready. She was happy, as she would be wearing new clothes today and also she would get to eat delicious food.