translated from Spanish: The father of the largest family in the world dies in India

The father of what is considered the largest family in the world, married to 39 women and has dozens of direct descendants, died on Sunday in northeast India, although his followers said on Monday that he is still alive and have suspended his burial. Ziona Chana, born in 1944 in the state of Mizoram and leader of a Christian sect that practices polygamy, fathered 94 children and also had 33 grandchildren, a family of more than 180 people. Doctors declared the death of Chana, who suffered from hypertension and diabetes, on Sunday in a private hospital near Aizawl, capital of mizoram state.But devotees of the sect, which has about 3,000 followers, resisted on Monday to bury its leader.” His body is still warm and we can feel his pulse, there are no symptoms of rigor mortis, (so) under these observations we believe it would be an injustice to bury our leader, “said in a statement Zaithankhumma, secretary of the congregation founded Chana.One of the daughters of the father of this multitudinous family, Zonunthari, told Efe that the decision on his funeral is in the hands of the community.” He is the father of hundreds, but he is also followed by thousands, so the elders of the congregation will decide where, when and how their last rites are celebrated,” he said. The burial could take as long as a week, according to Zonunthari.Chana, 76 at the time of his death, married his first wife, Zathiangi, in 1959, while his last marriage was celebrated in 2004.The leader of the Christian sect, founded by his grandfather, eventually achieved local celebrity status. His residence in the village of Baktawng, a large four-story house called “Chhuan Thar Run” or Residence of the New Generation in which 162 people currently live, also became a tourist spot.” Mizoram and its village in Baktawn has become a major tourist attraction because of the family. Rest in peace!” wrote the region’s head of government, Zoramthanga, on Twitter.

Original source in Spanish