It is said in the Bhagwat Purana that Kansa had sent Akrur to Gokul for bringing Shri Krishna to Mathura. As Krishna had left with his brother Balram by a chariot, leaving behind the gopis and gopals weeping; the day is celebrated in remembrance of this most touching separation and farewell.

The mammoth procession of Rath-yatra at Ahmedabad is the biggest in Gujarat. It starts from the Jagdish Mandir situated in the Jamalpur area of the city early in the morning. There are three separate chariots for the idols of Krisna, Balram and their sister Subhadra. The chariots resemble those at Jagannathpuri and are adorned with garlands. Musical bands and bhajan mandlis lead the procession. Decorated elephants also move with the procession and gymnasts and acrobats perform physical feats. Numerous sadhus of all Vaishnavite sects and devotees join in this procession headed by the mahant of Jagannaath temple. At Dakor a big fair is held drawing large crowds from far-off places.