Ziona (born Zionnghaka; 21 July 1945 – 13 June 2021)[1] was the leader of Lalpa Kohhran Thar (meaning "The Lord's New Church"), informally referred to as Chana Pâwl or Chhuanthar Kohhran ("The Church of New Generation"), a polygamy-practising Christian sect in Mizoram, India.
[10] The religious sect he led was formed by his uncle Khuangtuaha in 1942 as a millennialist denomination, which survives in Serchhip district in Mizoram state of India, sharing borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar.
He had 39 wives, 94 children, 14 daughters-in-law, 33 grandchildren and one great grandchild; 181 family members in total and counting.
[16][17][18] Ziona was born Zionnghaka[19] on 21 July 1945 at Hmawngkawn village in Serchhip district, which is 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the south of Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram.
[5] Zaṭhiangi is the head wife and directs the household chores of the family with strict discipline.
[17] Ziona built a four-storied mansion, which appears like a boarding house, to accommodate his large family.
[22] Ziona had a double bedroom in the ground floor of this mansion and his wives took turns to sleep with him according to a roster.
Though teaching in the school is based on a curriculum prescribed by the government, he has added some subjects specific to his Chana sect.
[27] Ziona's wives do the cooking, and his daughters attend to cleaning of the house and take care of washing laundry.
Men of the family attend to livestock rearing, agriculture (jhum cultivation), small cottage industries of wood furniture (carpentry), aluminum utensil making, and so forth.
[1] In critical condition, he was brought to Trinity Hospital at Aizawl in the afternoon of 13 June (Sunday).
[44] Khuangtuaha Pawl believed that the drum was harmless and adopted it as one of the key instruments for worship.
The sect also advocated millennialism by accepting the literal event of Bible's Revelation Chapter 20 to "Kum Sang Rorel" or the rule of 1,000 years by Jesus Christ on Earth.
[31][44] The sect then became popularly known as Chana Pâwl,[50][51] but they also used a formal name "Lalpa Kohhran" (meaning "The Lord's Church") for their denomination.
[44][52] It was only in 1967, following political turmoil in Mizoram due to the Mizo National Front uprising, that the government relocate them along with hundreds of small villages.
[50][51] The sect celebrate their founding day as "Bawkte Kut" (literally meaning "Festival of the Hut") on 12 June every year.