1. plural of dharna; a form of nonviolent protest in South Asia in which a person or group sits in front of a building or official's residence and refuses to leave until demands are met
Usage: chiefly Indian English; often used in political and social activism contexts

Examples

• The activists organized dharnas outside the government office to demand policy changes.
• Dharnas have been a powerful tool for social movements in India for decades.
• The workers staged dharnas in front of the factory gates until management agreed to negotiate.
• During the protest, multiple dharnas were held simultaneously across the city.
• The dharna tradition reflects principles of nonviolent resistance inspired by Gandhi.