1. a suspension of work or business as a form of protest, especially in India and South Asia
Usage: often used in Indian English and South Asian contexts; typically organized to protest government policies or social issues

Examples

• The workers called a hartal to demand better wages and working conditions.
• A nationwide hartal was organized in protest against the new legislation.
• During the hartal, shops and offices remained closed throughout the city.
• The hartal lasted three days and significantly disrupted transportation services.
• Labor unions announced a hartal to show solidarity with the striking employees.
• The government attempted to negotiate with union leaders before the scheduled hartal.
• Many citizens supported the hartal as a peaceful form of political protest.