SINGAPORE - For the first time, the National University of Singapore's (NUS) Rag and Flag Day - which has spanned over 50 years - featured a charity carnival.

The new element to the tradition of Rag Day, was a fun fair themed Carnival of Dreams. It was held on Friday morning at NUS University Town and the aim was to supplement the donations from Flag Day.

NUS students raised more than $420,000 from Flag Day donations and sale of carnival coupons. Proceeds from the event will go towards 19 charity programmes under the Community Chest. These include Lighthouse School, St Andrew's Autism School and Pasir Ris Family Service Centre.

NUS Students' Union President Soh Yi Da said the addition of the carnival provides a platform for students to innovate beyond traditional "tin-can" fund-raising.

Mr Soh said: "The carnival also adds vibrancy, atmosphere and ambience to the excitement of Rag Day."

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who was at the event, got a first-hand feel of the vibrancy while touring the carnival. Students requested him to pose with them for pictures and selfies.

This year's Rag Day featured 14 performances by some 650 NUS students from 17 different Halls of Residence, Faculties and Schools. Four performances eventually clinched Gold at the end of the day - those by NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, NUS Business School, the School of Design and Environment, and the collaboration between Eusoff and Temasek Hall.