Podalangai (Trichosanthes cucumerina)

Podalangai, chichinda in Hindi, is snake gourd, a climbing vine whose long, pale green, white-striped fruits can grow over a metre. South Indian growers tie a small stone to the tip of each young fruit so it grows straight instead of curling. It is cooked young in kootu, poriyal and thoran. Its lacy white flowers open at night.

Botanical name: Trichosanthes cucumerina L.
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Tamil: Podalangai
Hindi: Chichinda
Sanskrit: Paṭola
Parts used: Young fruit
Habit: Monsoon vine with long, pale-green snake gourds
Last updated: 2026-10-27

How to recognise Podalangai

It is a climbing annual vine with branched tendrils and soft-hairy stems.

The leaves are rounded and shallowly three- to seven-lobed.

The white flowers have petals edged with long, delicate, branching fringes, and open at dusk.

The fruits are long, slender and cylindrical, pale green with white stripes, often twisting like a snake.

Ripe fruits turn orange-red and soft, with red pulp around the seeds.

Traditional use of Podalangai

Kitchen

Podalangai kootu with moong dal and coconut, and podalangai poriyal, are common Tamil dishes.

Tamil food practice

Kitchen

In Kerala snake gourd is cooked into thoran and in Bengal into chichinga curries.

Kerala and Bengali food practice

Farming

Vines are grown on overhead pandals so the long fruits hang down, weighted with stones to keep them straight.

South Indian farm practice

Modern notes on Podalangai

The fruit is mostly water, low in calories, with fibre and some vitamin C.

Mature fruits become bitter and fibrous and are not eaten.

Its night-opening, fringed flowers attract hawkmoths.

Podalangai safety

Eat snake gourd young and cooked. Throw away any fruit that tastes bitter.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to South and South-east Asia.

Hawkmoths pollinate the night flowers.

It grows best in warm, humid weather during the monsoon.

Related plants

Also in Cucurbitaceae

Questions about Podalangai

Why tie a stone to snake gourd?

To make the fruit grow straight.

When should Podalangai be picked?

Young and tender, before it turns orange.

Is Podalangai related to pointed gourd?

Yes. Both are Trichosanthes species.

Why are the flowers fringed?

The fringes help attract night pollinators.

How long can Podalangai grow?

Over a metre.

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.