SINGAPORE — In a quirky display of devotion to academic success, some students at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have turned to an unconventional "deity" in the hopes of securing favourable grades. 

Posts have emerged on various social media platforms showcasing a makeshift shrine dedicated to the latest incarnation of the supposed Bell Curve God, embodied by an avocado keychain.

Nestled under a street lamp near the NUS College of Design and Engineering, the shrine has become a focal point for students seeking a bit of luck in their studies, with many placing “offerings” in order to garner "divine" favour.

WHAT IS THE BELL CURVE GOD?

The name Bell Curve God is derived from the bell curve grading system in which students are assigned grades based on their performance relative to their peers. The grades are distributed along a bell-shaped curve, with most students receiving an average grade and fewer students receiving higher and lower grades.

Some students in Singapore pray to the Bell Curve God to supposedly seek its intervention to prevent their grades from being classified in the lower end of the curve.

British broadcaster BBC reported that shrines devoted to the Bell Curve God have been set up in both NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

It is unclear when the term Bell Curve God was first coined. This patron of scholastic achievement typically emerges in Singapore universities during examination seasons, offering amusement and solace to stressed-out students.

FROM TRASH TO TREASURE 

In previous depictions, the Bell Curve God has often been portrayed wearing a graduation gown and mortar board. So how did the avocado keychain, in all its paunchiness, earn its divine status?

In online accounts shared by NUS students, it is believed that the keychain's previous owner dropped or lost it, before it was placed by someone at the base of a street lamp sometime in early March.

Some people reportedly began referring to the keychain as the Bell Curve God, attributing the nickname to the avocado's curved shape.

As word spread, students began creating a shrine for the “avocado deity” by first building a roof over its head, then bestowing it with two “guards” made of Lego toy bricks, as well as what appeared to be a mini katana or Japanese sword.

Soon, the shrine bloomed to include an acrylic case along with offerings ranging from beverages and snacks to even a hand sanitiser.

As the volume of offerings grew, the shrine reportedly began attracting pests and was eventually removed by the school’s authorities in mid-April.

However, it appears that the students in NUS were unwilling to let go of their avocado deity just yet. Social media posts revealed that the Bell Curve God was reincarnated in a 3D printed form.

A user on X (formerly Twitter) named “Singaporose” wrote in Chinese: “After the Bell Curve God avocado doll at NUS was cleaned up, a stubborn student 3D-printed another avocado and put it back in its place.

“In the battle of wits between students and school authorities, who will have the last laugh?” 

Speaking to TODAY, some students in NUS have confirmed that the shrine is still standing strong as of Friday afternoon.