Do Hindus Worship Idols?

Hindus do not worship idols. This is a popular misconception. We worship the power vested in the idols, after it has been appropriately invoked and invited to reside in the idol.
Idols in the Hindu temples are not toys or statues. They are physical bodies which have been energized to vibrate in a certain way such that they impact everything around them. The entire concept and the science behind the idols and their handling is given under the Hindu Holy Scriptures , a tantric scientific methodology that has been perfected over many millenia. The idol as indeed the entire temple becomes a vibrating body that can impact any person that is in the vicinity of the temple. This practice of energizing idols was traditionally known as ?Prana Prathishta?, literally meaning Establishment of the Life force in the idol. In English, although not completely consistent, we could use the word consecration for it.

Hindu Shastras (Holy Scriptures) recommend starting out with worship of god bearing a physical form since this is what the average, uncomprehending human mind can relate to. Gods typically take human forms across most cultures because this is what the human mind can empathize with quickly and easily. It helps one to think of a being beyond one's self, endowed with greater power and serves as a mental crutch of sorts .
What I have shown is a South Indian Hindu temple. You may see some believers entering the temple for worship. I have not shown any particular form of God/Idol as there are millions of forms which Hindus worship, Also many evolved souls do not worship idols!
Faith helps many people deal with unspeakable anguish that is hard to overcome otherwise. First of all I would like to say that I am not an expert on deity worship. I would also like to say that I very much enjoy temple visits because of the divine feeling that one gets when going to Temples.
Camera: Canon SX130IS, handheld, no adjustments except minor adjustments in brightness and sharpness. Image resized to Far requirements.