The family members of Zionghaka, the head of the world’s largest family are not ready to bid him final goodbye and claimed that he was “still very much alive”.
According to the Republic TV, the family has refused to perform the last rites as they claim his body is still warm with a beating pulse.
The Chief Minister of Mizoram, Zoramthanga, has confirmed the death of Zionghaka.
The 76-year-old with 39 wives, over 90 children and at least 33 grandchildren, headed a religious sect Lalpa Kohhran that allows polygamy for men in Mizoram.
According to Chhuanthar village council president Ramzuava, over 2,500 members belonging to 433 families form part of the sect, which was founded by the Zion-a”s uncle around 70 years ago.
“All of them hold the septuagenarian in high regard, and would not want to perform his last rites until they are convinced that he is gone.”
Zionghaka’s family live in a sprawling four-storey mansion with over 100 rooms with a common kitchen in Baktawng village which is also a major tourist attraction.
They are supported by their own resources and occasional donations from followers and tourists.
This family was also featured twice in the “Ripley’s Believe it or not” in 2011 and 2013.
Family members, however, insisted that his body was warm and his pulse still beating.
Zaitinkhuma, the secretary of Lalpa Kohhran thar, told PTI that Zion-a regained pulse beat after he was brought home from the hospital.
“His (Zion-a) body is still warm. His family members and people of Chhuanthar in Baktawng village can’t bury him under such circumstances.”
Zionghaka was born on July 21, 1945, and got married for the first time at the age of 15 in 1959 and for the last time in 2004 when he was 60.
He was suffering from hypertension and diabetes and was declared dead by doctors at Trinity hospital in Aizawl, on Sunday.
