The Glory of the Ganges is mentioned in various religious scriptures. Several sacred scripts including Rig-Veda have made reference to the holy ganga. Sacred texts like Bhagwata Purana, Ramayana, Bhagawadgita, Agni Purana, Padma Purana, Brahma Purana, Narada Purana and Skanda Purana have eulogized the significance and merits of Ganga river.

Har Har Gange ~ Har Har Mahadev !

The Glory of the Ganges is mentioned in various religious scriptures. Several sacred scripts including Rig-Veda have made reference to the holy ganga. Sacred texts like Bhagwata Purana, Ramayana, Bhagawadgita, Agni Purana, Padma Purana, Brahma Purana, Narada Purana and Skanda Purana have eulogized the significance and merits of Ganga river.

In Mahabharata Bheeshma explains the glory and significance of Ganga to Pandavas lying on the bed of arrows. "By holding that sacred stream, touching it and bathing in its waters, one rescues his ancestors to the seventh generation."
"That end which a creature is capable of attaining by penances, by Brahmacharya, by sacrifices, or by practising renunciation, one is sure to attain by living by the side of Bhagirathi and bathing in her sacred waters"
"Ganga always extends her unto those that are devoted to her with humbleness of heart. She unites those that are so devoted to her with every kind of happiness."

The eighteen Puranas mention the glory and purity of mother Ganga.
"India is great. Himalayas are great but the region in the Himalayas where Ganga is born is ESP great because that is the place where she exists in confluence with Narayana " ~ Skanda Purana.
"Even if thousands and thousands of sinners touch the dead bodies and bath in thee, all those will be destroyed when devotees will come and touch thee." Devi Bhagwatam.
"Thousands of mans sins get destroyed by the holy sight of the Ganges. And he becomes pure by the touch of water of Ganges, by consuming it or just by pronunciation Ganga" ~ Garuda Purana.

"Mountains of sins accumulated by the sinner in the course of his million transmigrations on earth disappear at the mere touch of the sacred Ganga water. Cleansed will he be also who even breathes some of the air moistened by the holy waters." ~ Brahmavaivarta Purana.

During Vedic times Sages used to have their hermitage on the banks of Ganga River. Even now many Sadhus live on the banks of Ganga River. Sage Valmiki had his ashram on the banks of river Ganga that was known as Brahmavarta where Lord Brahma had performed Ashwamedha Yaga. In the Epic Ramayana, Goddess Sita Devi during her exile lived in the Ashram of Sage Valmiki on the banks of river Ganga.

"O Narada lemme tell you about such a place of pilgrimage which is even holier than the holiest places of pilgrimage. Confluence of Ganga and Yamuna is the holier than any other place of pilgrimage. The extremely sacred and pious Ganga rises from the feet of none other than Lord Vishnu. Yamuna on the other hand is the daughter of Surya. Even the remembrance of Ganga is enough to do away with all the sins and making one peaceful." ~ Narada Purana.
"This place where Ganga and Yamuna merge is famous as Prayaag in the world. It is the same place where Brahma had once invoked Lord Vishnu in a Yagya. ‪Since then, innumerable sages have followed Brahma and performed different kinds of Yagyas there. Even a person who recites the name of Ganga hundred miles from Prayaag attains salvation. Smear the sand of Ganga’s bank on the forehead is like, in a way, bearing the crescent shaped Moon on the head. Those who remember Ganga receive the benefit of performing pilgrimage to all the holy places. Among other places of pilgrimage, Varanasi has almost equal significance to that of Prayaag. O Brahmin! Ganga is the mother of the entire world. Mere touch of her sacred waters salved the sixty thousand sons of Sagar. No one can describe the greatness of Ganga." ~ Narada Purana.