Ghaziabad, May 29 -- Goat-shaped cakes replaced animal sacrifice for several Muslim families in Ghaziabad's Loni this Eid-ul-Azha, as residents embraced an "eco-friendly" celebration after an appeal by BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar.

Videos from different parts of Loni surfaced on social media showing people cutting cakes shaped like goats or decorated with goat images while celebrating the festival together.

Local residents, including Khalid, Chand, Arbaz, Kamruddin Ansari, Haji Liaqat and Haji Babu, welcomed the MLA's appeal and said environmental protection and communal harmony were a collective responsibility.

"Change with time is necessary and such initiatives help maintain love, brotherhood and social harmony," some residents said....