3. WORLD’S
LARGEST
FAMILY
In Indian state of Mizoram

5.  He is head of the world's biggest family - and
says he is 'blessed' to have his 39 wives.
 Ziona Chana also has 94 children
 14-daughters-in-law
 33 grandchildren.
 They live in a 100-room, four storey house
set amidst the hills of Baktwang village in the
Indian state of Mizoram

7.  Ziona (born 1944/1945) is a head of Pu
Chana páwl, a Christian sect formed in June
1942, which survives in the mountains of
Mizoram state of India, sharing borders with
Bangladesh and Myanmar.
 Ziona was featured in Ripley's Believe It or
Not! top 11 strangest stories for the year
2011 and in 2013's Ripley Believe It or Not
book 9

9.  Ziona's father Chana, who was said to have
married over 20 women died in 1997; after
him the legacy of 'Lalpa Kohhran' was carried
on by his eldest son Ziona.
 Like his father Ziona is responsible for the
spiritual, social and economic welfare of all
his family members.

10. We built a society that is more tolerant of personal
differences in views and thoughts and where people
appreciate and carry forward the value of mutual
respect, love and co-operation," Ziona said.

11.  The family is organised with almost military
discipline, with the oldest wife Zathiangi
organising her fellow partners to perform
household chores such as cleaning, washing
and preparing meals.
 One evening meal can see them pluck 30
chickens, peel 132lb of potatoes and boil up
to 220lb of rice.
 Coincidentally, Mr Chana is also head of a
sect that allows members to take as many
wives as he want

13.  The members of the cult do not mind being
called a religious sect because they take
pride in nurturing the legacy of 'Lalpa
Kohhran' (God's church) founded by their
'godfather' Chana in 1966

14.  The administration of the settlement is so
complete that besides the religious aspect of
the unit, the Lalpa Kohhran family have their
own school called
 Chhuanthar Students Home (Class V to Class
X)
 a playground they call Chhuanthar Stadium,
 carpentry workshops
 piggery farm
 poultry farm
 paddy fields
 a vegetable garden big enough to feed the
entire family.

16.  The sons and their wives, and all their
children, live in different rooms in the same
building, but share a common kitchen.
 The wives take turns cooking,
 while his daughters clean the house and do
washing.
 The men do outdoor jobs like farming and
taking care of livestock.

18.  All the cooking is done over an open fire kept
burning throughout the day.
 Ziona's eldest wife Zathiangi, 69, delegates
all the daily duties around the house to his
other wives, their daughters and the
daughters-in-law.
 Every day there is a mountain of washing
to get through - all done by hand.
 And how often does a wife get to sleep
with Chana? – A 'rotation system' is
maintained, he says.

20.  "Most of the women Ziona married were
poor and orphan women in the village.
 By marrying them, he has set an example in
the history of mankind.
 He is confident that he can remember all
their names, including those of his children's
spouses - 15 daughters-in-law and 26 sons-in-
law - and his 50 grandchildren.

22.  Surprisingly, all the wives get along very well
and there is hardly any infighting among
them.
 One of her co-wives, Huntharn-ghaki,
insists all of Ziona's brides get along.
 She says: "If a family system is laid on the
founding stone of mutual and genuine love
and respect for each and every member, then
the system is guaranteed to be a success

23.  The family, consumes around 200 pounds of
rice a
 nd more than 130 pounds of potatoes a day.
They are supported by their own resources
and occasional donations from followers.
 "Even today, I am ready to expand my family
and willing to go to any extent to marry,"
Ziona said.
 "I have so many people to care (for) and look
after, and I consider myself a lucky man."
 Ziona met his oldest wife, who is three years
older than he is, when he was 17.

25.  Older and younger wives sleep in separate
dormetries.
 Males with their Families on 2nd floor.
 Ziona’s oldest son is 50 years old only one
with the separate appartment.
 All the family members are engaged in
village social work including building of roads
and water tanks.

26.  While Mr Chana sleeps in his own room with a
double bed, his wives share rooms that
resemble dormitories.
 The rooms are sparsely furnished and each
wife is allocated one bed and a cupboard.
 The younger wives are assigned rooms
nearer their husband's on the ground floor,
while the older ones get rooms on the upper
floor.

27.  Another of his wives, Huntharnghanki, said
the entire family gets along well. The family
system is reportedly based on 'mutual love
and respect'
 And Mr Chana, whose religious sect has 4,00
members, says he has not stopped looking for
new wives.
 'To expand my sect, I am willing to go even
to the U.S. to marry,' he said.