Malabar has a rich repertoire of folk dances. They reflect the temperaments and moods of the localities in music and costumes and are highly developed. Religious colouring is mostly seen in almost all of these folk dances, even in those performed in connection with harvests, sowing of seeds festivals etc. Men alone, some exclusively by women, perform many of these dance forms. There are also dances in which men and women perform together. Most of the folk dances are performed to the accompaniment of songs, which are sung by the dancers themselves or occasionally by a group of musicians. Some are performed to the accompaniment of musical instruments only. In several dances the performers form a circle and clap as they dance. Sometimes, instead of clapping they strike small sticks, which they hold in their hands. The costumes and ornaments are peculiar to the places to which they belong. In these folk dances there is no difference between the performers and the audience. Almost all of these dances are simple but beneath this simplicity are a profundity of conception is a directness of expression, which are of a high artistic order.