Neer poosanikai (Benincasa hispida)

Neer poosanikai, petha in Hindi, is ash gourd or winter melon, a large, waxy, pale fruit that keeps for months. Agra’s famous petha sweet is made from it, and South India cooks it into avial, mor kuzhambu and kootu. Whole ash gourds are hung at house entrances and broken before new shops and vehicles in South India to ward off the evil eye. Its name comes from the white, ash-like bloom on the skin.

Botanical name: Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Tamil: Neer poosanikai
Hindi: Petha
Sanskrit: Kūṣmāṇḍa
Parts used: Fruit
Habit: Ash gourd vine with large, waxy fruit
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Neer poosanikai

It is a large trailing or climbing annual vine with hairy stems and tendrils.

The leaves are large, rounded and shallowly five-lobed, rough and hairy.

Large, yellow, bowl-shaped flowers grow singly in the leaf axils.

Young fruits are covered in stiff hairs; mature fruits are smooth, green, and coated with a white waxy bloom.

The flesh is white and watery, around a central core of flat seeds.

Traditional use of Neer poosanikai

Kitchen

Agra petha is made by soaking ash gourd pieces in lime water and cooking them in sugar syrup.

North Indian food practice

Kitchen

Ash gourd goes into Kerala avial and olan and Tamil mor kuzhambu.

South Indian food practice

Ritual

A whole ash gourd painted with a face is hung over doorways, or broken at openings, to ward off the evil eye.

South Indian folk practice

Modern notes on Neer poosanikai

The fruit is about ninety-six per cent water and very low in calories.

Its waxy coating lets whole fruits keep for months without refrigeration.

Ash gourd juice has become popular as a health drink, though evidence for specific benefits is limited.

Neer poosanikai safety

Ash gourd is a safe food. As with all gourds, taste a small piece and discard any bitter fruit before juicing.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to South-east Asia and has been grown in India for centuries.

Bees pollinate the flowers.

It thrives in warm, humid weather.

Related plants

Also in Cucurbitaceae

Questions about Neer poosanikai

What is petha?

A candied ash gourd sweet from Agra.

Why is Neer poosanikai called ash gourd?

Its mature skin has a white, ash-like bloom.

How long does Neer poosanikai keep?

Whole, for several months.

Is Neer poosanikai the same as pumpkin?

No. It is a different gourd.

Why is Neer poosanikai hung at doorways?

As a traditional ward against the evil eye.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.