A photograph of all the Ziona family members in Baktawang, Mizoram, India. |
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A 66-year-old man in India's remote northeast has 39 wives, 94 children and 33 grandchildren, all living under one roof. They all live in a four storied building with 100 rooms in a mountainous village in Mizoram state, sharing borders with Burma and Bangladesh, according to reports. "I once married 10 women in one year," Ziona Chana said. His wives share a dormitory near Ziona's private bedroom and locals said he likes to have seven or eight of them by his side at all times. The sons and their wives, and all their children, live in different rooms in the same building, but share a common kitchen. The wives take turns cooking, while his daughters clean the house and do washing. The men do outdoor jobs like farming and taking care of livestock. The family, all 167 of them, consumes around 200lb of rice and more than 130lb of potatoes a day. They are supported by their own resources and occasional donations from followers. "Even today, I am ready to expand my family and willing to go to any extent to marry," Ziona said. "I have so many people to care (for) and look after, and I consider myself a lucky man." Mr Chana met his oldest wife, who is three years older than he is, when he was 17. He heads a local Christian religious sect, called the "Chana", which allows polygamy. Formed in June 1942, the sect believes it will soon be ruling the world with Christ and has a membership of around 400 families. (Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Website.) (Agencies) |
印度东北部一个偏远地区有一位66岁男子,他共有39位妻子、94名儿女和33个孙子女,所有人都生活在一起。 据报道,他们全都住在印度米佐拉姆邦一个山村中的一栋四层小楼里,楼中共有100个房间。米佐拉姆邦与缅甸和孟加拉国接壤。 这名叫齐奥纳•查纳的男子说:“我曾经在一年内娶了10个老婆。” 齐奥纳私人卧室旁边有一间大寝室是他的妻子们共用的,当地人说齐奥纳喜欢身边总是有七八位老婆陪着他。 他的儿子和儿媳们,以及孙辈们住在同一栋楼的不同房间里,但他们共用一个厨房。 齐奥纳的妻子们和媳妇们轮流做饭,而他的女儿们则负责打扫房子和洗衣服。家庭里的男人们负责耕种、喂养家畜等户外工作。 这个167人的大家庭一天要吃掉约200磅米饭、130多磅土豆。他们基本能自给自足,偶尔也会有追随者赠送一些食物给他们。 齐奥纳说:“即使是现在,我也很愿意继续娶妻,扩大我的家庭。” “我有这么多亲人可以去关心和照顾,我觉得我是个幸运的人。” 查纳在17岁时遇到了他最大的老婆,她大他三岁。 查纳是当地一个叫“查纳”的基督教派别的领袖,该教创立于1942年6月,允许一夫多妻制。目前,该教派约有400个家庭的教徒,并且认为他们很快就会和耶稣一起统治世界。 相关阅读 (中国日报网英语点津 崔旭燕 编辑:陈丹妮) |
Vocabulary: polygamy: the custom of having more than one wife at the same time 一夫多妻(制) |