Saturday 26 September marks the high point of the international BIHAR congress, with a morning of grassroots, itinerant mobilisation open to all. The gathering begins at 10:30 AM at Ficoba, with a reception at the home of Joan Petit, Occitan activist. At 11:00 AM, a musical procession sets off from Ficoba, crossing the town to reach the Saint-Jean bridge. There, at 11:15 AM, a multilingual reading of the manifesto will take place, accompanied by txalaparta and dance — a powerful moment combining collective voice and artistic expression.

The day closes at noon at the Fabrique Borderline with a festive closing toast, continuing the convivial spirit of the previous evenings.

A powerful symbol

The name Joan Petit was not chosen at random. It refers to a historical figure from the Occitan Rouergue: a leader of the 1643 Croquants revolt against taxation and royal power, whose house was destroyed in reprisal, and who was himself tortured — an episode that has remained alive in popular memory, notably through the traditional song that bears his name.

Together with friends from the Carrieras Occitanas movement, a wooden house in his image will be rebuilt for the occasion, then carried aloft by around twenty people. What authoritarian power destroyed (our languages, our cultures, our ways of seeing the world…), grassroots mobilisation rebuilds — and carries collectively, like a banner.

This wooden house will be raised by language activists from all over the world, as well as by feminist campaigners, academics, elected officials, artists, civil society representatives, farmers and poets. It will become the roof under which the final declaration is read.

This day represents the symbolic culmination of the congress: a collective, itinerant raising of languages, carried through the presentation of the final declaration and a closing ceremony, in Hendaye.

Saturday 26 September: Ficoba > Borderline fabrika

• 10:30 AM Reception at the home of Joan Petit, Occitan activist (FICOBA)
• 11:00 AM Musical procession sets off (FROM FICOBA)
• 11:15 AM Multilingual reading of the manifesto – Txalaparta – Dance (SAINT-JEAN BRIDGE)
• 12:00 PM Festive closing toast (FABRIQUE BORDERLINE)

Open to all. Free. No registration required.
Organisers: Garabide – Plazara – Soziolinguistika Klusterra – Taupa
Full programme of talks, evenings and Saturday’s mobilisation.