The first two days of the festival this year were held in the intricate 15th-20th century red sandstone Mehrangarh Fort, one of the largest in India, which looms four hundred feet above the blue city of Jodhpur.
With features typical of the Konkani people from southwest India (light brown complexion and often green, grey or blue eyes after centuries of interaction with European traders), Raut "could be from anywhere, " says Bidapa.
Last year he brought over 490 welders and metal-fitters from India on H-2B guest worker visas--ten-month visas for blue-collar laborers filling jobs that no American citizens want.