The father of ‘the world’s largest family’, who had 39 wives and 94 children, has died aged 76.
Ziona Chana was the leader of a religious sect – called Chana pawl – which allows its males followers to be polygamous.
With heavy heart, #Mizoram bid farewell to Mr. Zion-a (76), believed to head the world's largest family, with 38 wives and 89 children.
Mizoram and his village at Baktawng Tlangnuam has become a major tourist attraction in the state because of the family.
Rest in Peace Sir! pic.twitter.com/V1cHmRAOkr— Zoramthanga (@ZoramthangaCM) June 13, 2021
Chana’s huge family all lived together and also included 33 grandchildren and one great-grandchild as well as 14 daughters-in-law. It is thought to be the biggest family in the world.
The family lived in a four storey house with 100-rooms in the village of Baktawng Tlangnuam in India’s Mizoram state.
The region’s Chief Minister tweeted: “With heavy heart, Mizoram bid farewell to Mr Ziona believed to head the world’s largest family.
“Mizoram and his village has become a major tourist attraction in the state because of the family. Rest in Peace Sir!”
Doctors told PTI news agency that Chana suffered from diabetes and hypertension. He became unwell at home and when his condition deteriorated he was taken to hospital but sadly died.
Chana’s unusual lifestyle has meant that he’s hit headlines around the world and his massive mansion has become a bit of a tourist attraction.
The whopping house comes complete with its own school, workshops, playground, areas to rear livestock and vegetable garden.
Speaking about his brood, Chana once said: “I feel like God’s special child. He’s given me so many people to look after.
“I consider myself a lucky man to be the husband of 39 women and head of the largest family.”
But as you can imagine having such a large family requires quite a bit of work with a typical family meal requiring up to 30 chickens, 132lbs of potatoes and 220lbs of rice.
Chana’s eldest wife, Zathiangi, 69, took control of doling out the duties to the other women in the family, who then would get busy with the running of the home – including ploughing through the mountain of washing that needed to be done daily.
