Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. It is said that Lord Krishna was born at midnight on the eighth day or 'Ashtami' of the holy month, Shravana, according to the Hindu calendar. Lord Krishna is the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, who took birth as a son to Devaki and Vasudev to rid Mathura-wasis (People of Mathura) from the evil and merciless rule of King Kansa.

Born to Devaki and Vasudev, the little lord had to be taken away to the care and nurture of Yashoda and Nanda right at the time of his birth. It was prophesied that the eight son of Devaki and Vasudev would be the cause of Kansa's death. To stop the prophecy from coming true, the evil king had imprisoned Devaki and Vasudev, going on to kill all their six children. But his fate was doomed, and on the night of Krishna's birth, the Gods guided Vasudeva to carry little Krishna to Vrindavan to Yashoda and Nanda, where Krishna spent his childhood, and years later went on to take the life of Kansa as predicted.

At Vrindavan, Krishna was the most notorious child, known across the village for his mischief. Maakhan or white butter was Little Krishna's favourite. It is said that Mother Yashoda would herself feed Krishna his favourite delight Makhan Mishri (sweetened white butter) every day, but so fond was Krishna of Maakhan that he would even go stealing butter across his village as soon as it was churned, much to the dismay his mother, who had to ultimately tie him to a pole to keep him from stealing butter.

The impish act earned him the famous name 'Maakhan Chor'.