Oils in Fasting Foods: Satvik Choices & Ancient Beliefs

Oils in Fasting Foods: Satvik Choices & Ancient Beliefs

In India, fasting isn’t just about abstaining from food — it’s a sacred pause, a reset for both body and mind. From Navratri to Ekadashi, Shivratri to Purnima, fasting (upvaas) is deeply woven into spiritual and cultural life. But what’s often overlooked is the quiet yet powerful role that oil plays in these rituals — especially coconut oil and sesame oil, both prized for their purity, stability, and subtle nourishment.

During fasts, every ingredient carries spiritual symbolism. The principle of Satvik ahar — foods that are light, pure, and life-supporting — guides dietary choices. Oils used in fasting foods follow the same path: minimally processed, naturally extracted, and free from additives. In this gentle balance between nourishment and restraint, oils become both sustenance and symbolism.

The Satvik Philosophy Behind Oils

The term Satvik originates from the Sanskrit word Sattva, meaning purity, balance, and clarity. Foods in this category are believed to enhance calmness and awareness, aligning the body’s rhythm with nature’s cycle. In fasting, where the digestive system is given rest, oils must not overstimulate or weigh down the body.

Coconut oil and sesame oil fit this philosophy perfectly.

• Coconut oil is light, cooling, and considered sheeta virya (having a cooling energy) in Ayurveda. It supports digestion, balances Pitta dosha (the fire element), and provides quick energy through medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs).
• Sesame oil, on the other hand, is warming, grounding, and ushna virya (warming in nature). It is often used during cooler months or for evening rituals when the body needs warmth and stability.

Both oils are traditionally cold-pressed (kacchi ghani or chekku), preserving natural nutrients and maintaining purity — a core Satvik ideal.

Coconut Oil: Light, Pure, and Sacred

Coconut holds a sacred place in Indian rituals — a symbol of purity, offered to deities and used in temple lamps. In fasting foods, its oil becomes a natural extension of that symbolism. Light yet energizing, it’s ideal for frying sabudana vadas, sautéing singhara atta rotis, or drizzling over fruit bowls for added richness.

Scientifically, coconut oil’s MCTs are quickly metabolized for energy rather than stored as fat — a helpful feature during fasting when meals are infrequent. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), MCTs can support energy metabolism and satiety when food intake is limited.

Its mild sweetness complements the calm, nourishing nature of fasting foods — a perfect example of how traditional wisdom meets biochemical balance.

Sesame Oil: Deep Nourishment in Every Drop

Known as til ka tel, sesame oil is often associated with spiritual and physical warmth. During winter fasts like Magh Ekadashi or Mahashivratri, when the weather turns dry and cold, sesame oil’s warming property helps maintain agni (digestive fire).

Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita describe sesame oil as a rejuvenator, rich in prana (vital life energy), and suitable for both cooking and external use during fasting rituals. Modern studies also highlight its content of lignans (such as sesamin and sesamol) and antioxidants that support heart and skin health.

Many households mix sesame oil with rock salt for light sautéing or tempering in vrat-friendly dishes — simple yet deeply flavoured.

Minimal Processing: The Satvik Essence

In fasting, purity is not a metaphor — it’s a practice. Oils used are often unrefined, cold-pressed, and chemical-free, ensuring they retain their natural aroma and nutrients. The belief is simple: when food is minimally altered, its pranic (life-giving) energy remains intact.

That’s why refined or hydrogenated oils are avoided in Satvik cooking — they are considered tamasic (lifeless) and energetically heavy. Instead, small-batch, wooden-pressed oils are preferred, maintaining a bridge between the physical and spiritual aspects of nourishment.

Beyond Nutrition: The Emotional Comfort of Ritual

Fasting days are not just dietary discipline; they’re acts of mindfulness. Lighting a sesame-oil lamp before dawn, frying light snacks in coconut oil, or offering til laddus during Sankranti — these acts are emotional, sensory, and symbolic. Each carries warmth, continuity, and a sense of sacred simplicity.

The aroma of sesame oil in the kitchen or the gentle sweetness of coconut oil reminds one that fasting isn’t deprivation — it’s refinement. Oils, in their purest form, embody that principle beautifully.

From the lamp that flickers with sesame oil to the dish cooked gently in coconut oil, fasting in India is a ritual of balance — body, mind, and spirit. These oils aren’t chosen by coincidence but by centuries of observation, belief, and balance. They symbolize purity, energy, and connection — the very essence of Satvik living.