Devotees offer prayers to cows on the occasion of Gopashtami at Kadam kuan in Patna on Oct 28, 2017. (Photo: IANS)

Kartik Shukla Ashtami is celebrated as Gopashtami. On this day, Lord Shri Krishna started the cow charan Leela. The cow is also called gaumata. According to the Puranas, on the day of Kartik Shukla Ashtami, Mother Yashoda sent Lord Krishna to the forest with cows for Grazing green fodder.