The cult leader leaves around 40 wives, around 90 children and more than 30 grandchildren

Enlarge image

Photo of the family members of Ziona Chana (detail): Some tribes have exemptions for polygamy

Photo: Adnan1 Abidi / REUTERS

With Ziona Chana, the head of one of the largest families in the world died.

How many wives, children and grandchildren he actually had is initially unclear after his death.

The information fluctuates.

According to a source from the head of government of the Indian state of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, Chana is said to have 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren.

Other sources speak of "only" 38 women, 89 children and 36 grandchildren.

One thing is clear: the dimensions of Chana's family are huge - the women, children and grandchildren should eat around 30 chickens, 60 kilograms of potatoes and 100 kilograms of rice at one meal.

Chana's family is the reason why his state on the border with Myanmar and Bangladesh and his village have become a major tourist attraction.

Ziona Chana was 76 years old, the head of government announced on Twitter.

According to media reports, Chana passed away due to complications related to diabetes and blood pressure.

Women share huge dormitories

Chana lived with his family in a house with more than a hundred rooms, according to local media.

Accordingly, his wives shared a large dormitory.

His first wife is said to have married Chana as a teenager, his last when he was 60.

In one year he said he had married ten women at once.

Polygamy is illegal under Indian law, but some tribes have exemptions for it.

The father of Ziona Chana had founded the small Christian sect in the predominantly Hindu country.

According to local media, it has around 2000 members, most of whom live in Chana's village.

Despite the enormous size of his family, Chana said in an interview in 2011 that his family planning was still ongoing.

"I am ready to expand my family and ready to take every step to get married."

Winston Blackmore, who heads a polygamous Mormon sect in Canada, has a family similar to that of Ziona Chana.

According to the Reuters news agency, he has around 150 children from 27 wives.

apr / dpa / Reuters