Baktawng, India - This family with 162 members can easily be one of the largest living together under one roof in this picturesque village, about 100km from here.
The head of the family and leader of the 'Chana' sect, 66-year-old Ziona, has 38 wives and 94 children with some of his sons having married and having children of their own living together in a building named 'Chhuan That Run' or the House Of The New Generation. One of Ziona's wives said though their sons lived in different rooms in the building they all share the kitchen where they cook for the entire family.
"We prepare 30-35kg of pork when we want to eat meat and require around 50kg of rice for dinner," she said. The members of the sect, numbering almost 3,000, live in around 350 houses.
The majority of the sect members reside in Baktawng village and have a separate locality called Baktawng Tlangnuam while many also lived in Aizawl and other places.
They all contribute one-tenth of their monthly earnings for the sect which is used for the development of the community which practises a blend of democracy and communism.
Earlier known as Khuangtuaha Pawl, the sect was formed on June 12, 1942 after the followers of Khuangtuaha were evicted from Hmawngkawn village by the village chief for propagating "wrong and dangerous" theology.
The sect till today celebrates the 'Bawkte Kut' or the Festival of the Hut on June 12 every year to commemorate the formal formation of the sect.